S.R. No. 114 Summary

• Requests the Governor convene a working group to plan for remediation of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment and have been linked to health risks including cancer, thyroid disease, and kidney dysfunction.

• Working group membership includes legislative committee chairs on environmental protection, the Director of Health, representatives from all four counties, two environmental organization representatives, and two business community representatives selected by the Governor.

• Working group directed to identify PFAS contamination locations and sources throughout Hawaii, propose action plans including legislation and remediation strategies, and conduct public awareness campaigns about PFAS dangers.

• Requires preliminary report to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2025 Regular Session convenes, with subsequent reports due before each future Regular Session.

• PFAS estimated to cost approximately $17.5 trillion annually globally through remediation efforts, health care costs, and monitoring, while chemical producers generate $4 billion in annual U.S. profits from PFAS production.