STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3576

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 164

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 164 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PRIORITIZING EFFORTS TO PROTECT HAWAII'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM FOREIGN INFLUENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the State to:

(1) Prioritize the security, resilience, and reliability of critical infrastructure systems;

(2) Protect these systems from foreign influence; and

(3) Accelerate efforts to eliminate the State's dependence on imports.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from 350Hawaii.org, Greenpeace Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that foreign governments and entities have demonstrably sought to influence and control critical infrastructure systems across the country and may deliberately disrupt global supply chains of components essential to these systems to advantage their own strategic interests. Unfortunately, the State experiences increased vulnerability to foreign influence due to its geographic isolation and almost total dependence on importation of goods. This measure will prompt greater economic resilience, ensure sustained public services, and reduce instability during future geopolitical upheavals, market downturns, and natural disasters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting findings specifying that:

(A) The most recent example of the risks of dependency on supply chains outside Hawaii's control is the State's current reliance on imported fuels, which for decades has exposed state energy infrastructure to supply and price shocks based on the dictates of monopolistic suppliers, instabilities in foreign markets, and global events outside of the State's control;

(B) The recent war in Iran has triggered the latest giant spike in global natural gas and oil prices, with Hawaii's main utility now anticipating an increase of twenty to thirty percent to typical residential electric bills, imposing a sudden, painful burden on families and the state economy;

(C) The State has an interest in maintaining local control over its critical utility infrastructure and supply chains; and

(D) Strengthening critical infrastructure, eliminating dependence on imported goods and supplies, and avoiding foreign control over local infrastructure systems and supply chains will enhance the State's resilience in times of economic disruption, natural disaster, or geopolitical instability;

(2) Clarifying that the purpose of the measure is to encourage the State to prioritize the security, self-sufficiency, resilience, reliability, and local control of critical infrastructure systems and supply chains, and protect them from foreign influence and control;

(3) Clarifying that state agencies are requested to prioritize security for critical infrastructure; rapidly accelerate efforts to eliminate the State's dependence on imported food, energy, and other necessities as quickly as possible; and minimize the State's exposure to the volatility, risk, and impacts of foreign influence and events;

(4) Clarifying that state agencies, including the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, and others who have significant authority over critical infrastructure and supply chains for food, energy, and similar dependencies, are requested to minimize foreign influence and prioritize the State's resilience, security, and local control of critical infrastructure and supply chains in all plans, projects, programs, and decisions; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 164, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair