STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2947

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3103

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3103, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to assist eligible low-income households that are affected by high energy costs.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist eligible households with the payment of home energy costs; and

(2) Requires the Public Benefits Fee Administrator of the Public Utilities Commission to provide recipients of assistance from the program with information and support to enhance home efficiency and reduce electricity costs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Public Utilities Commission; City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency; County of Kauai; Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; Hawaiian Electric; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Imua Alliance; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the current federal program for assistance to low-income households for energy costs fails to meet the needs of Hawaii's vulnerable residents. The federal program's funding formula favors states having high heating needs while ignoring electricity price differences and Hawaii's unique energy challenges. Your Committee notes that the need for a state home energy assistance program is urgent, and as more families face disconnection from electricity services, the gap between federal assistance and need continues to widen.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3103, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3103, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair