STAND. COM. REP. NO. 882-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1620

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1620, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the environmental response, energy, and food security tax and the amount collected from the tax that is deposited into the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount; and

(2) Require the Public Utilities Commission to transfer funds from the Hydrogen Fueling System Subaccount to the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Public Utilities Commission; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Carbon Cashback Hawaiʻi; Earthjustice; Imua Alliance; Hawaii Electric Vehicle Associaion; Our Children's Trust; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation; Hawaii State Energy Office; and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1620, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair