Relating To Water Infrastructure.
SB563 directs the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, working with the Agribusiness Development Corporation and the counties, to conduct a statewide study of agricultural water infrastructure. The study must identify and inventory wells, irrigation ditches, reservoirs, pumping stations, and related agricultural infrastructure, and assess their current condition, maintenance needs, and future investment priorities. The department must also create a tracking system for future infrastructure needs and submit a report with findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by November 1, 2027.
The bill also appropriates general funds for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support the study. Although the bill text does not specify a dollar amount, it authorizes spending by the Department of Agriculture for the study’s purposes. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2050, which is unusually delayed and may reflect drafting or placeholder language rather than an immediate implementation date.
SB563 would not directly regulate water use or transfer ownership of infrastructure, but it would require state action to build a more complete inventory and data system for agricultural water assets. It would affect the Department of Agriculture, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and county governments by assigning them collaborative responsibilities for data collection and reporting. The bill could also influence future appropriations and policy decisions by generating a statewide assessment that may lead to later legislation, capital improvements, or maintenance planning for wells, ditches, reservoirs, and pump stations supporting agriculture.
The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably in committee, passing the Senate Agriculture and Environment committee 3-0 with amendments. The bill’s findings frame agricultural water infrastructure as essential to food production and emphasize the need for better coordination and information-sharing among agencies, indicating broad policy support for the study concept. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate in the provided materials, but the unanimous vote points to general agreement on the need for better planning and inventory of agricultural water systems.
The main policy issue identified in the bill is not opposition to the study itself, but the fragmented oversight of water infrastructure across multiple agencies and jurisdictions. The bill notes that wells, canals, and irrigation projects may be on private, county, or federal land, which can limit access and complicate inventory efforts. It also highlights overlapping responsibilities among the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Commission on Water Resource Management, the Department of Agriculture, and the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Any contention would likely center on interagency coordination, data collection authority, funding, and the practicality of compiling a complete statewide inventory rather than on the study’s overall purpose.