STAND. COM. REP. NO. 53

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 198

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 198 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Low- to Moderate-Income Electric Vehicle Rebate Program and electric vehicle subaccount to encourage the purchase and use of electric vehicles by low- to moderate-income households and nonprofit organizations providing assistive services to low- to moderate-income households; and

(2) Appropriate funds into the electric vehicle subaccount.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Blue Planet Foundation, Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350Hawaii.org, Hawaiian Electric, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and seventeen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that because of the higher up-front cost of an electric vehicle compared to an internal combustion engine vehicle, low- and moderate-income households have had lower rates of adoption of electric vehicles than affluent households in recent years. Providing more access to new technologies and services through rebates, such as on the purchase or lease of an electric vehicle, will further encourage the adoption of low emission vehicles for private and public use and advance the State's decarbonization, clean transportation, and affordability goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that appropriates an unspecified amount out of the electric vehicle subaccount for the Low- to Moderate-Income Electric Vehicle Rebate Program;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 198, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 198, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair