STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2934

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3252

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. 3252, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to strengthen the capacity of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission by restructuring the Commission's leadership and clarifying its membership and responsibilities.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission was established to provide policy direction, facilitation, coordination, and planning, and to provide climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and goals to help guide policy implementation. However, your Committee finds that the current model for the Commission may have inherent conflicts of interest that have prevented the Commission from fulfilling most of its statutory mandates, thereby missing opportunities to reduce climate-related impacts and save on costs for the State. Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure's restructuring of the Commission and expansion of its capacity will help the Commission fulfill its mission and statutory duties.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting a new preamble section to better align it with the measure's content.

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. 3252, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3252, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair