STAND. COM. REP. NO. 166-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1972

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1972 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Disposal Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawaiʻi; 350Hawaii.org; Product Stewardship Institute; Tesla; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Automobile Dealers Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaii State Energy Office; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; and Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

Your Committee finds that the number of registered electric vehicles in the State has grown significantly and that the State has a responsibility to ensure that electric vehicle batteries are properly recycled or reused. However, your Committee recognizes that the establishment of this program may be premature and that further consideration of electric vehicle battery management practices is necessary.

Your Committee has amended this measure accordingly by:

(1) Replacing the establishment of the Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Disposal Program with the establishment of a working group to make recommendations for a more appropriate means of recycling and reusing electric vehicle batteries;

(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. 1972, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1972, 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