STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1762-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 158

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.R. No. 158 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUEST THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A TEMPORARY WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE CURRENT CAPACITY OF UTILITY SERVICES, THE EXPECTED LIFESPAN OF EXISTING COASTLINE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF NECESSARY EXPANSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission to develop a temporary working group to study the current capacity of utility services, the expected lifespan of existing coastline infrastructure, and the financial implications of necessary expansions.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs – Division of Consumer Advocacy and the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the study conducted by the working group be specific to the City and County of Honolulu;

(2) Amending the membership of the working group to:

(A) Designate the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission as Chair;

(B) Add a member of the State House of Representatives and a member of the State Senate, appointed by their respective presiding officers;

(C) Add the heads of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Division of Consumer Advocacy, or their designees; and

(D) Remove the Councilmember from District 1 as a member of the working group; and

(3) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 158, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 158, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair