STAND. COM. REP. NO. 728

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 552

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 552, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require that the procurement policy for each agency purchasing or leasing medium- and heavy-duty motor vehicles be to seek vehicles that reduce dependence on petroleum-based fuels that meet the needs of the agency, where feasible and cost-effective;

(2) Establish clean ground transportation goals for state agencies on a staggered basis until achieving a complete inventory of clean state-owned, light-duty motor vehicles by December 31, 2035; and

(3) Require state and county agencies to purchase building materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project for use on the construction of new roads, where feasible and cost-effective.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, Blue Planet Foundation, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Environmental Justice Task Force of Faith Action for Community Equity, Imua Alliance, Hawaiian Electric Company, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation, State Procurement Office, Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, 350Hawaii.org, and Hawaii Petroleum Marketers Association.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 552, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair