Policy and Legislation
Take a look at what Surfrider Hawai'i is working on for the 2025 Legislative session
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Over 3,000 bills are introduced each year at the state level. These bills govern everything from how tax payer money is spent to laws that help protect our ocean, waves, and beaches throughout Hawaiʻi. In addition to state-wide legislation, each of the four counties in Hawaiʻi (Kauaʻi, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, and the City and County of Honolulu/Oʻahu) pass laws that govern action at the County level. Our local chapters on each island lead and prioritize county-level legislation, while state level legislation is a combined effort led by the Hawaiʻi Regional Manager. Below are our 2025 priority bills at the Hawaiʻi state level.
Jump to bills on:
- Jump to useful resources:
- Learn How to Submit Testimony
Phase out small plastic toiletry bottles in lodging establishments: HB 348
With nearly 10 million visitors in 2024, the tourism industry is a substantial source of Hawaiʻi’s plastic pollution. This bill prohibits plastic single-use plastic toiletries in hotels, vacation rentals, and other tourist accommodations. Not only would this bill make a sustainable industry standard, but hotels would actually save money in the process by switching to refillable dispensers.
Current Status:
- Needs to pass through to two Senate Committee joint referrals: Economic Development and Tourism (EDT)/ Agriculture and Environment (AEN) and Commerce and Consumer Protection (CPC)/Judiciary (JDC)
Upcoming Hearings:
- Submit Testimony by Monday Marth 17th 1:01 PM! (link here)
- Tuesday, March 18th 1:01 PM EDT/AEN
Past Hearings:
- PASSED Through House and crossed over to Senate
- Read Surfrider’s testimony in SUPPORT here (page 7).
HB 348 resources:
Expand definition of Beach Restoration: HB 1137
In response to accelerating beach loss and increasing sea levels, this bill updates the state’s beach restoration policy to include managing native vegetation and removing abandoned materials that threaten the ecosystem. This update will make it possible for existing Beach Fund resources to support a broader range of efforts to restore and maintain beaches and dunes.
*Concerning recent amendments accepted in 3/14. WTL committee hearing accepted Hololani Resort Condominiums on Maui's recommendation to add "provided emergency erosion protection structures originally permitted by the department shall not be deemed abandoned." This is an effort to protect the football length of emergency temporary sandbags that were installed in front of Holololani condominium in 2007.
Current Status:
Upcoming Hearings:
- None scheduled as of 3/15
Past Hearings:
- Passed Senate Water and Land Committee with amendments.
- HB 1137 PASSED Through House and crossed over to Senate.
- Read Surfriderʻs testimony in SUPPORT (page 5)
Our Goal- Reduce the Impact of Cesspools on Coastal Waters in Hawaiʻi
Hawaii’s 88,000 cesspools are one of the biggest threats to water quality across the state, discharging 53 mgd sewage into coastal waters. In recent years, Surfrider has played a key role in successfully urging the state government to finally move away from relying on these antiquated and ineffective systems for managing household wastewater. A state-level Cesspool Task Force has been established to develop a workable plan for getting all Hawaii residents off of cesspools by 2050 that includes identifying priority areas for conversion and recommendations for new treatment options. While this work is ongoing, Surfrider has been supporting new legislation every year to further the state’s progress towards meeting the 2050 goal.
Establishes a dedicated Cesspool Conversion Section within the Department of Health Wastewater Branch, funding three new staff positions. The Department of Health is understaffed, causing delays in cesspool upgrade projects. Adding staff will accelerate approvals, improve project timelines, and help homeowners transition to cleaner, more affordable wastewater solutions—ultimately protecting Hawai‘i’s water quality and coral reefs.
Current Status:
- Needs to be scheduled a hearing in HHS/AEN and WAM by 3/21
Upcoming Hearings:
- None (as of February 20, 2025).
Past Hearings:
- Passed out of House and crossed over to Senate
- Read Surfrider’s testimony in SUPPORT here (page 19)
Fund UH to evaluate affordable wastewater technologies: HB 736/ SB 1232
Hawai‘i can save cesspool owners and governments money by adopting cost-effective wastewater solutions without compromising water quality. Solving Hawaiʻi’s wastewater problem will require innovation. These bills establish a three-year pilot program at the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center to test sustainable wastewater solutions.
Current Status:
- HB 736: Passed by the House Committee on Finance. Set to cross over to the Senate.
- SB 1232: Passed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Set to cross over to the House.
Upcoming Hearings:
- None (as of February 20, 2025).
Past Hearings:
HB 736:
- PASSED House Committee on Finance.
- PASSED House Committee on Higher Education.
- PASSED House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.
SB 1232:
- PASSED Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
- PASSED Senate Committee on Higher Education, and Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment.
Bill Resources
Denitrification capacity for shoreline individual wastewater systems: HB379 HD 2 - Support!
Wastewater systems near the coast pose a serious risk to fragile marine ecosystems and public health risk. This bill would protect coral reefs and ocean water quality by requiring denitrification capacity in newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline and likely to pollute reefs.
Current Status:
- HB379 Referred to the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce. Needs to be scheduled for hearing soon, or the bill will die.
Upcoming Hearings:
- None (as of February 20, 2025).
Past Hearings:
HB 379:
- PASSED House Committee Environment and Protection with amendments.
- PASSED House Committee on Water and Land with amenments.
Bill Resources
Learn how to submit testimony!
When a bill is scheduled for hearing, you may submit testimony. First you must register on the Capitol website here to create a log-in account. Along with testimony, log-in accounts also allow users to track individual bills and to receive hearing notifications by email.
Registration requires the following information: your name, email, and a password for the log-in account. After creating your account for the Hawaiʻi State Legislature website, you may submit your testimony on any bill you want!
Follow these testimony tips to make the most impact!
- Make it personal- Tell a story of how this measure impacts you.
- Back it up with evidence or data- Even if that data is your own personal observations
- Leverage other testimony- Take a look at previous testimony submitted on the bill page under 'Testimony' on the right for help on crafting your talking points.
- Submit 24 hours PRIOR to the hearing to ensure your testimony gets reviewed by the committee
When you are ready to submit testimony, follow these steps:
- Login to your account
- Click the “submit testimony” button
- Enter bill or measure #
- Click “Support”
- Enter your affiliation
- Select method (written / in person / zoom)
- Attach or enter testimony
2025 VICTORIES
VICTORY- Protect free parking and ocean access at Ala Wai Boat Harbor, Stop SB 364
Surfrider O'ahu Chapter along with Save Ala Wai Surf Parking organized community members to oppose and block this effort and SB 364 was deferred on February 3rd, 2025 in the Committee on Water and Land. Companion HB 210 was never scheduled a hearing.
Bill Resources
Save Kakaʻako Makai, Stop SB 534/HB 605- Oppose!
SB 534 and HB 605 are part of an Office of Hawaiian Affairs proposal for Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority to approve residential development in the Kakaʻako Makai area. If approved, it would allow other parcel owners to build similar 400 foot towers along Ala Moana Blvd. In 2006, lawmakers banned residential development on lands makai of Ala Moana Boulevard. This bill would lift that restriction.
This area has complex environmental concerns- history as garbage incinerator and dump site, labeled a “contaminated brownfield” by EPA. Disruption from construction of such areas, especially for structural supports for 400ft towers, will likely result in seepage of these contaminants into surrounding recreational waters (e.g. Kewalo Basin, Ala Moana Beach Park, Sand Island, etc.) and impact marine life (consumable) and protected species (e.g. green sea turtles, monk seals, dolphins, etc.) that frequent the coastal area.
Current Status:
- DEFFERED on 2/28 in Senate Ways and Means and Judiciary Committees.
Submit Testimony
SB534 Resources: