HB 2691 Summary

• Establishes the Red Hill remediation authority as a body corporate and public instrumentality of the State, administratively attached to the department of land and natural resources, to facilitate and oversee remediation of contamination from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

• Creates a nine-member board of directors consisting of four community members appointed by the governor (including an Oahu resident, Native Hawaiian water practitioner, youth environmental advocate, and environmental protection representative) and four government entity representatives (BLNR chairperson, University of Hawaii president, Honolulu mayor, and Honolulu Board of Water Supply manager/chief engineer), plus an executive director serving as voting chairperson.

• Establishes the Red Hill remediation special fund to receive legislative appropriations, gifts, donations, grants, and interest earnings, with moneys used solely for remediation activities including monitoring, research, remediation, public outreach, and evaluation.

• Grants the authority broad powers including contracting authority, rulemaking under chapter 91, procurement authority exempt from chapter 103D, ability to accept grants and donations, and authority to employ staff exempt from civil service requirements.

• Requires all state and county agencies to provide requested information and data within 30 calendar days and mandates annual reports to the legislature, governor, and Honolulu mayor and city council beginning December 1, 2026.