STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3160

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1619

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1619, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Exclude from the definition of "development", as it applies to Special Management Areas, the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of an electric vehicle charging system; and

(2) Include the Public Utilities Commission in the development and implementation of plans to meet the long—term goals for zero emissions transportation in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Public Utilities Commission, Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi, and Hawaiian Electric.

Your Committees find that while a key climate goal of the State is to transition to electric-based transportation, a significant barrier is the lack of adequate infrastructure to support electrification and that increasing demand for electric vehicles in the State will require approximately four thousand additional public electric vehicle charging systems by 2030 to support electric vehicle adoption. Your Committees further find that, due to the State's geography, many prime locations for public charging infrastructure, including beaches, harbors, and tourism corridors, fall within Special Management Areas that are subject to stringent permitting requirements. By clarifying certain definitions to exempt these charging systems from Special Management Area permit requirements, this measure will allow the State to fulfill its commitment to providing a zero-emissions transportation sector.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1619, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair