Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1921: Relating to Cesspools.
Status: In committee, March 23, 2026
Allows an existing cesspool that lawfully serves a single dwelling unit in a priority level 3 area to continue serving that dwelling unit and additional bedrooms constructed on the same parcel, subject to certain conditions. Authorizes the Department of Health to adopt rules and authorizes the restriction of additional bedrooms where continued cesspool use impacts water quality or human health.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to cesspools.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii continues to face a severe shortage of safe and affordable housing across all islands. As housing costs rise faster than wages, many local families are responding by doubling up and adding bedrooms to existing homes to accommodate multigenerational living, prevent displacement, and keep extended family members together in their communities. The legislature further finds that many proposed state and county cesspool conversion and wastewater infrastructure subsidies appropriately prioritize conversion, upgrade, or connection in priority level 1 and 2 areas, where cesspools and other onsite wastewater systems pose the greatest risk to drinking water sources, surface waters, and coastal ecosystems. However, homeowners with cesspools or individual wastewater systems located in priority level 3 areas often lack access to comparable subsidies for conversion or upgrade, even though they 2026-2291 HB1921 HD2 HMSO lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!IIII Page 2 1921 H.B. NO. H.D. face similar housing pressures and may need to add modest bedroom capacity to remain housed in their communities. Since properly designed, sited, and maintained onsite systems in priority level 3 areas may be further away from sensitive environmental assets or areas that may directly affect human well-being, the legislature finds that, to the extent practicable under federal law, these areas should be afforded exemptions from chapter 11-62-06(m), Hawaii …
Sponsors
- Luke Evslin (D, 16) · primary sponsor
- Della Belatti (D, 26)
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
- Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6)
- Darius Kila (D, 44)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
- Nicole Lowen (D, 7)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Tyson Miyake (D, 10)
- Daynette Morikawa (D, HD-017)
- Elijah Pierick (R, 39)
- Kanani Souza (R, 43)
Latest actions
- : The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
- : The committee on HHS deferred the measure.
- : The committee(s) on AEN/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
- : Referred to AEN/HHS, JDC.
- : Passed First Reading.
- : Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 317).
- : Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
- : Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
- : Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1203-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
- : The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama.
Votes
- AEN: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 23, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2) (March 10, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- JHA: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 5, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M (February 17, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- EEP: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 5, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Housing, Rules, Counties, Prohibition, Cesspools, DOH, Exemptions
Common questions
- What is HB1921?
- HB1921 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Cesspools.
- What does HB1921 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to cesspools.
- What is the status of HB1921?
- In committee as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1921?
- Luke Evslin (D, 16), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1921?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1921&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.