HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1307
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 205, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, provided funds to the department of Hawaiian home lands to begin an investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands to be used for the generation, transmission, or production of electricity and renewable energy resources. Geothermal resources can provide stable power, community benefits, and an alternative to biofuels. The legislature further finds that the department of Hawaiian home lands requires more funding to allow the department to drill slim holes at certain sites on Hawaiian home lands, develop water wells, collect geophysical data, and hire consultants to help the department navigate the intricacies of geothermal development.

The purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for the geothermal revolving fund to provide loans for water well development for geophysical investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands.

SECTION 2. Chapter 182, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§182-   Geothermal revolving fund; loans; repayment. (a) There is established the geothermal revolving fund for the purpose of providing loans for water well development for geophysical investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands. Appropriations made by the legislature, private contributions, repayment of loans, including interest and payments received on account of principal, and moneys from other sources shall be deposited into the revolving fund and shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian home lands. An amount from the revolving fund not exceeding five per cent of the total amount of outstanding loans may be used by the department of Hawaiian home lands for administrative expenses incurred in administering the revolving fund.

(b) Repayment of loans from the geothermal revolving fund shall commence five years after water well development operations begin and the balance of the loan shall be paid in full within five years after repayments have commenced."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $6,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the geothermal revolving fund.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DHHL; Hawaiian Home Lands; Geothermal Revolving Fund; Geothermal Resources; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Geothermal Revolving Fund for loans for water well development for geophysical investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.