STAND. COM. REP. NO. 30-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1982

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1982 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Truth for the People and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that geothermal resources can provide stable power, community benefits, and an alternative to fossil fuels. Your Committee further finds that start-up funding was appropriated to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for the exploration of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands and that additional funding is needed to continue these efforts. This measure ensures that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has the resources and expertise needed to continue geothermal resource exploration and development activities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $5,000,000 for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1982, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair