STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1219-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3252

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 Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 3252, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE PLANNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure to:

(1) Amend the leadership, membership, powers, and duties of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission;

(2) Establish the powers and duties of the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission Coordinator;

(3) Beginning after December 31, 2026, require all department and agency plans and decisions to consider recommendations made by the Commission or Coordinator; and

(4) Appropriate funds for positions and other expenses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission was established to develop, facilitate, and coordinate certain climate strategies. Your Committee further finds that the leadership of the Commission may have inherent conflicts of interest that have prevented the Commission from fulfilling the majority of its mandated duties. Your Committee recognizes the need to reform the Commission's leadership and structure and provide additional resources to ensure it can function effectively. This measure restructures the leadership, membership, and responsibilities of the Commission and provides additional staffing to help ensure the Commission can meet its mandated duties and guide Hawaii's climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Your Committee has 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 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 S.B. No. 3252, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3252, S.D. 2, 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