STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1224-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3103

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 3103, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist qualifying households in paying their energy bills; and

(2) Require the Public Benefits Fee Administrator of the Public Utilities Commission to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Human Services; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Imua Alliance; Hawaiian Electric; Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative; Aloha United Way; and two individuals.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, at rates close to three times the national average, placing a significant financial burden on many households. Your Committees further find that Hawaii residents receive little support from the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, with the State receiving the lowest amount of federal funding from the program of all states in fiscal year 2021-2022. Your Committees recognize that this gap in federal funding necessitates further state-level support to help offset energy costs for certain residents. This measure establishes a Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program to assist eligible households with energy costs and ensures recipients of the program receive information and support to enhance home energy efficiency.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3103, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3103, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair