The Joint House and Senate Conference committee approved conference draft 1 of SB1221 SD2 HD3 on April 25, directing counties to adopt ordinances regulating retention and detention ponds, ordering a survey of existing ponds and requiring a report to the Legislature, and establishing Jan. 1, 2027, as the date counties must have ordinances in place.

Committee members said the change — included as a memorial naming the statute “Sharkey’s Law” — is intended to improve water safety after past incidents involving hazardous drainage and retention features near developments. The conference draft uses the House language with a small number of agreed changes, according to the committee record.

The draft requires each county to adopt ordinances regulating retention and detention ponds located within county jurisdiction, directs counties to survey existing retention and detention ponds, and requires a legislative report on the survey results. The conference draft also adds a citation clause naming the pertinent section of law as Sharkey’s Law.

Conferees recorded unanimous ‘aye’ votes among those present. The Senate conferees on the record included Senator Hashimoto, Senator Kanuha and Senator Fevella, who each recorded “aye.” On the House side, the committee recorded “aye” votes for the presiding House conferee (recorded in the transcript as Chair Hashem), Representative Lamasau and Representative Shimizu; Representative Tarnas was listed as excused.

The bill text and the conference draft will be handled through the usual enrollment and drafting steps before returning to the floor for any further required action. The committee did not record additional appropriations tied to the requirement in the conference draft discussed during this session.

With the committee’s approval of the CD1, the bill will proceed according to legislative scheduling and the Legislature’s processes for conference-reported measures.