CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 77-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2504

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE PROGRAMS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal part II of Act 66, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, which requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with the University of Hawaii on workforce development activities that support the development of the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub and related aspects of the State's hydrogen energy industry; and

(2) Repeal the appropriation to develop the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub.

Your Committee on Conference finds that part II of Act 66, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, was enacted to support the State's pursuit of federal funding for the development of a Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub. Your Committee on Conference further finds that although the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub proposal was not selected, the Hawaii State Energy Office has gained considerable knowledge that could accelerate the future development of green hydrogen use in the State and that two projects included in the proposal are still moving forward. As the State's proposal was not selected, this housekeeping measure repeals part II of Act 66, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, and the appropriation to develop the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub, as they are no longer necessary.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN Co-Chair	____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair
____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA Co-Chair