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CWRM staff briefs commissioners on 2025 water-related bills; commission amends meeting agenda to add additional bills
Summary
Commission staff reviewed a slate of water-related bills for the 2025 legislative session and the Commission on Water Resource Management voted to amend the meeting agenda to add several late-filed bills for briefing. Staff will circulate testimony and update commissioners on hearings as the session progresses.
Commission staff summarized pending 2025 legislation relevant to the Commission on Water Resource Management and flagged bills for follow-up during the Jan. 28 meeting. Topics included bills that would adjust penalty authority, clarify emergency and water-shortage powers, add representation on the commission nominating committee, require dual‑line (potable/non‑potable) systems under specified circumstances, and proposals tied to Red Hill coordination and desalination planning.
Chair Dawn Chang asked commissioners if they concurred with amending the agenda under the Sunshine Law to add late-filed bills for briefing. After staff listed the additional measures, a motion to amend the agenda was moved and seconded and a roll-call vote approved the amendment unanimously. The meeting transcript records the vote: the motion to amend the posted agenda passed unanimously with seven ayes.
Staff advised commissioners that some bills are similar or overlapping and that testimony development and positions will be coordinated through department staff. Commissioners requested regular updates; staff agreed to provide copies of any testimony submitted on CWRM’s behalf and to BCC commissioners on filings so that commissioners can track hearings and request items for future agendas. The commission noted that Sunshine Law constraints limit how commissioners can confer outside a public meeting, and the staff recommended a process used by other commissions: staff will bring a small set of high‑priority bills back for commission action in public meetings when warranted.
Why it matters: Several bills under consideration could change the commission’s enforcement tools, rulemaking procedures for water shortages, board composition and the agency’s administrative relationship to DLNR. Commissioners directed staff to circulate draft testimony and to highlight hearings and crossover dates so commissioners can participate as individuals or request formal commission action when appropriate.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to amend agenda (add late-filed water-related bills for briefing): outcome approved, tally yes 7, no 0, abstain 0.
