STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2590

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2769

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2769 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all state, county, and private bus operators to upgrade to zero emission buses by 2045.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Disability and Communication Access Board, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaiian Electric, Blue Planet Foundation, and three individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, State Procurement Office, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committees find that unabated greenhouse gas emissions, and resulting climate change and sea level rise, present an urgent and existential threat to citizens of the State. Your Committees further find that while the State and counties have pledged to reduce the State's greenhouse gas emissions, further action needs to be implemented. This measure will advance the State's climate change mitigation commitment.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Limiting the scope to require the State and counties to upgrade to zero emission buses by 2045;

(2) Inserting language requiring the Public Utilities Commission to amend the Commission's administrative rules to encourage motor carriers to upgrade to zero emission buses by 2045;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) 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 Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2769, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2769, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair