STAND. COM. REP. NO. 82-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1623

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. 1623 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an executive committee and amend the membership and duties of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission;

(2) Require each member agency of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to implement its own actions to address certain strategies and goals established by the Commission;

(3) Establish reporting and review requirements for member agencies relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and clean economy targets;

(4) Update reporting requirements for the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Reports;

(5) Allow the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to enter into certain procurement contracts; and

(6) Update the zero emissions clean economy target.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority; Hawaiʻi State Energy Office; and Life of the Land.

Your Committee finds that the climate crisis poses an escalating threat to Hawaii's environment, public health, and economic stability and that recent legal, scientific, and policy developments underscore the urgent need for coordinated, sector‑wide climate action. This measure seeks to better position the State to address environmental threats by strengthening statewide emissions targets, requiring agency-specific action on climate initiatives, and updating the structure, duties, and accountability mechanisms of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the requirement that the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission set standards to meet or exceed mitigation goals;

(2) Consolidating reporting requirements for member agencies;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 1623, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1623, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair