STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2812

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2504

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal certain provisions relating to the proposed Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub.

Specifically, this measure repeals part II of Act 66, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, which:

(1) Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with the University of Hawaii on workforce development activities that supported the development of the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee 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 further finds that although Hawaii's application was not selected by the federal government for funding, the Hawaii State Energy Office gained knowledge through the development process that will be useful in advancing future green hydrogen projects.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to upon its approval; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments to correct bill section numbering errors.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair