STAND. COM. REP. NO. 259-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2284

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2284 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist qualifying households in paying their energy bills; and

(2) Require the Public Utilities Commission Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Human Services; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiian Electric; and Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, placing a financial burden on low-income households in the State. Your Committees further find that assistance provided to Hawaii residents through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been limited and that there is a need to support residents through state funding mechanisms. This measure seeks to allocate financial assistance to low-income households for energy-related costs and provide energy efficiency information and support to recipients of the financial assistance.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,500,000 for the implementation of the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2284, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2284, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair