STAND. COM. REP. NO. 701

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 973

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 973, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require rental vehicle companies using state facilities to pay or reimburse the State to install new or utilize existing state electric vehicle charging infrastructure at public facilities beginning January 1, 2028;

(2) Establish a task force to develop and implement electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support one hundred percent electric vehicle rental car fleets in the State by 2035; and

(3) Require annual reports by the task force to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Ulupono Initiative, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Avis Budget Group, Enterprise Holdings, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that many major vehicle manufacturers are planning to phase out the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles, with some states and nations having already set prohibitions for these vehicles by 2035. Your Committee additionally finds that the State is eager to quickly reduce carbon emissions and limit the use of new fossil fuel powered vehicles, particularly when considering that rental car fleets represent one of the largest passenger vehicle fleets in the State. However, Hawaii lacks sufficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support its zero emission goals. Thus, this measure establishes a task force to determine, develop, and implement electric vehicle charging infrastructure for rental car fleets and requires rental car companies to install charging infrastructure by leveraging public-private partnerships to help the State reach its net negative emission goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 973, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 973, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair