STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR14 , 2025
RE: S.C.R. No. 54
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R.
No. 54, S.D. 1, entitled:
“SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE AND PROVIDE
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE TO A DESALINATION PLANNING TASK
FORCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE USE OF DESALINATION FOR LARGE-
SCALE WATER CONSUMPTION IN THE STATE IS FEASIBLE,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
Land and Natural Resources to convene and provide administrative
assistance to a Desalination Planning Task Force to determine
whether the use of desalination for large—scale water consumption
in the State is feasible.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and CARES Community
Advocacy Research Education Services. Your Committee received
comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural
Resources.
Your Committee finds that freshwater scarcity is an
increasingly growing concern for the State as much of the State’s
freshwater supply comes from underground aquifers, which take
2025—3194 SCR54 HD1 HSCR HMSO
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
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decades to naturally replenish and are susceptible to chemical
spills and leaks, droughts, and commercial overuse. Your
Committee further finds that although desalination is a promising
solution to freshwater scarcity, the process may be too cost—
prohibitive and energy—intensive to be feasible. This measure
would address the State’s need for additional freshwater sources
by determining the feasibility of using desalination for large-
scale water consumption in the State.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requesting the Task Force to submit a final report no
later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of
2027, rather than twenty days prior to the Regular
Session of 2026;
(2) Dissolving the Task Force on June 30, 2027, rather than
June 30, 2026; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 54,
S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to
your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R.
No. 54, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Water & Land,
MARK J. S EM, Chair
2025—3194 SCR54 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-third Legislature ~fSc4~ ~pg 7
Record of Votes of the Committee on Water & Land
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
ec1~ ~ ~ 4/fO/ ~Ze2S~
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: ~ Pass, unamended (as is) B”~ss, with amendments (HD) 0 Hold
0 Pass short form bill with RD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
WAL Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. HASHEM, Mark J. (C) V
2. LAMOSAO, Rachele F. (VC) V
~
3. BELATTI, Della Au
4. ICH1YAMA, Linda
5. IWAMOTO, Kim Coco
6. MORIKAWA, Dee
~___
7. POEPOE, Mahina
8. WOODSON, Justin H.
~
9. SHIMIZU, Garner M.
10. SOUZA, Kanani
TOTAL (10) 0
The recommendation is: ~~iopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
ommittee acrony (s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) — Committ Duplicate (Yello ) Chief Clerks Office
— Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO