STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1831

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 197

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 197, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Health to establish a Refrigerant Management Program to reduce emissions of high global warming potential refrigerants and any refrigerant that is an ozone depleting substance from stationary, commercial, and industrial refrigeration systems and air conditioning systems and adopt rules for the regulation of the use of such refrigerants;

(2) Require the State Building Code Council to establish codes and standards consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons when updating the State Building Code;

(3) Specify that no law, rule, ordinance, or code, including the State Building Code, shall prohibit or limit the use of a refrigerant deemed acceptable under federal law; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawai‘i Environmental Change Agents, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Citizens' Climate Lobby Hawaii, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii.org, and fourteen individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that the Environmental Protection Agency identifies hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as greenhouse gases that have high global warming potential, which raises concern about their impacts as they become increasingly used as replacements for ozone-depleting refrigerants. Your Committees also find that climate-friendly alternatives are available with zero to low potential for contributing to global warming. This measure aligns with many of the State's climate change goals and will position the State in a leadership role in phasing out these harmful substances.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 197, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 197, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair