STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2464

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2434

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2434 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 construction, installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of an electric vehicle charging system as a minor structure; 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 Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Hawaiian Electric, and three individuals.

Your Committees find that increasing demand for zero emissions transportation in the State will require, according to estimates conducted by the Department of Transportation, approximately four thousand additional public electric vehicle charging systems by 2030 to support electric vehicle adoption. Unfortunately, the State's geography means that 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 expand electric vehicle charging system deployment to further the State's green energy transportation goals.

Your Committees note that concerns were raised regarding the location of public electric vehicle charging systems. Your Committees further note that public electric vehicle charging systems are often in closer proximity to building entrances than stalls that do not have electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Your Committees have amended this measure by clarifying the term "development" to narrow the scope of the exemption to include the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of an electric vehicle charging system, as defined in chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, including electrical infrastructure and underground utility lines that service the system.

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 S.B. No. 2434, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2434, S.D. 1, 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