STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2624

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3252

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 Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3252 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the powers and duties of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(2) Establish a Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission Coordinator position to lead the Commission;

(3) Appropriate funds for the establishment of positions; and

(4) Require annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and counties by the Commission.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committees find that the State is already experiencing significant and compounding impacts from climate change that have inflicted heavy costs on both the economy and the public well‑being. Your Committees are aware that the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission was established to develop strategies, assess risks, and guide statewide plans to mitigate future climate change-related impacts. Your Committees note, however, that the Commission does not have a structure or the leadership that empowers its agency. This measure strengthens the State's capacity to coordinate, plan, and implement mitigation and adaptation across departments and with county and federal partners.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inverting a blank appropriation amount;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committees note that this measure, as amended, contains an appropriation for an unspecified amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it considers inserting an appropriate amount after evaluating the future costs associated with this measure and potential pathways for the State to reduce costs.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3252, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3252, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair