THE SENATE

KA AHA KENEKOA

 

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair

Senator Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Vice Chair

 

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

Senator Glenn Wakai, Chair

Senator Stanley Chang, Vice Chair

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

 

DATE:

Thursday, February 12, 2026

TIME:

3:10 PM

PLACE:

Conference Room 224 & Videoconference

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

TIMESLOT:

EIG

 

 

PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL

BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY

 

The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.

A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.

 

 

These bills were originally scheduled to be heard on Monday, February 9, 2026, but due to the severe weather event over the weekend, the hearing was cancelled. All testimony previously submitted will be available to the committee and posted on the Legislature's website prior to the hearing and therefore, does not need to be resubmitted. New testimony will be accepted. 

 

 

A G E N D A

 

SB 2373

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

Establishes a state goal to strengthen nature-based carbon emissions reduction solutions.  Directs certain state agencies to identify opportunities for investing in nature-based solutions that reduce carbon emissions.  Authorizes the Hawaii State Energy Office to develop methodologies to quantify carbon emissions reductions through marine ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions.  Requires a report to the Legislature.

 

AEN/EIG, WAM

SB 2101

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE.

Establishes statewide goals for solid waste reduction and organic waste diversion.  Requires each county to incorporate into its next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to reduce all organic waste produced within the county by facilities generating more than a specified amount of organic waste per year in alignment with established state benchmarks.  Appropriates funds.

 

AEN/EIG, WAM

SB 2905

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Increases the environmental response, energy, and food security tax and the amount collected from the tax that is deposited into the electric vehicle charging system subaccount.

 

AEN/EIG, WAM

SB 3231

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS.

Requires condominium maps for lands within an agricultural district to include a letter signed by an appropriate county official or agency certifying that the condominium property regime will conform to county zoning laws.  Authorizes counties to require the county's approval of the subdivision of parcels of land larger than ten acres prior to the effective date of the condominium property regime.

 

AEN/EIG, CPN

SB 2486

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to contract with a third-party consultant to develop a Climate Protection Plan for delivery to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2029.  Establishes a Climate Protection Advisory Committee to assist the third-party consultant.  Appropriates funds.

 

EIG/AEN, WAM

SB 2376

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO THE RENEWABLE FUELS PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT.

For taxable years beginning 1/1/2026, clarifies that the Renewable Fuels Production Tax Credit shall only be claimed by taxpayers for which qualified renewable fuels production costs  are incurred within the State and sold for distribution within the State.  Allows taxpayers to be eligible for a separate ten-year credit period for each separate qualified renewable fuels production that independently meets eligibility requirements.  Extends the time frame for taxpayers to file certain statements with the Hawaii State Energy Office.

 

EIG/AEN, WAM

 

 

 

 

Decision Making to follow, if time permits.

 

All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.

 

Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.

 

Please note the following:

 

·         The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.

·         Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 2 minutes each.

 

If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf

 

For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.

 

For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email AENcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.

 

For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored.  If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-586-6830.

 

 

_____________________________________

Senator Glenn Wakai

Chair

 

_____________________________________

Senator Mike Gabbard

Chair