HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Rep. Nicole E. Lowen, Chair

Rep. Amy A. Perruso, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Cory M. Chun

Rep. Sean Quinlan

Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa

Rep. Lauren Matsumoto

Rep. Matthias Kusch

 

 

 

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

TIME:

9:30 a.m.

PLACE:

VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE

Conference Room 325

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.

 

A live stream link of all House Standing Committee meetings will be available online

shortly before the scheduled start time.

 

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

 

 

 

A M E N D E D  A G E N D A

 

The following measure(s) has been ADDED to the agenda:  HB2243

 

The following measure(s) has been DELETED from the agenda:  HB1598

 

 

HB 2241

Status

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Amends the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by beginning 12/31/26, prohibiting individually or jointly filing taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $250,000 or greater from claiming a credit for certain solar energy systems installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property, with certain exemptions; removing certain cap amounts for solar energy systems; and increasing the adjusted gross income requirements for an individual taxpayer to elect to have any excess credits refunded.

 

EEP, FIN

HB 2316

Status

RELATING TO LEAD MATERIALS IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

Amends prohibitions on the use of lead materials in drinking water distribution to align with the Safe Drinking Water Act and related Code of Federal Regulations.

 

EEP, JHA

HB 1566

Status

RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Requires each state agency to expeditiously use energy efficient lighting.  Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to provide technical assistance and survey state agencies for compliance, prioritizing first responder facilities.  Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to assist the Hawaii State Energy Office in conducting the survey.  Requires a report of the survey to the Legislature.

 

EEP, FIN

HB 1926, HD1

(HSCR52-26)

Status

RELATING TO RED HILL.

Appropriates funds for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; environmental monitoring and testing; research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard.  Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

WAL, EEP, FIN

HB 1673, HD1

(HSCR98-26)

Status

RELATING TO LANDFILL UNITS.

Repeals the prohibition on the construction, modification, or expansion of a landfill unit, or any component of a landfill unit, inland of an underground injection control line in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

WAL, EEP, JHA

HB 1948, HD1

(HSCR59-26)

Status

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Prohibits lodging establishments from providing personal care products in small plastic containers within sleeping room accommodations, any space within sleeping room accommodations, or bathrooms used by the public or guests.  Establishes civil penalties.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

TOU, EEP, JHA

HB 2602, HD1

(HSCR62-26)

Status

RELATING TO A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes the sustainable tourism infrastructure matching grant program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that advance measurable sustainability and climate resilience outcomes within the State's visitor industry.  Requires annual reports to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

TOU/ECD, EEP, FIN

HB 1598, HD1

(HSCR127-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLIMATE INSTITUTE.

Establishes the Hawaii Climate Institute at the University of Hawaii to support climate resilience and adaptation initiatives of the University and the State.  Requires a percentage of the revenue generated by any increase to the Transient Accommodations Tax rates beginning on January 1, 2026, and by assessment of the Transient Accommodations Tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares to be allocated to the University of Hawaii annually to support the programs and operations of the Hawaii Climate Institute.  Transfers the International Pacific Research Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology to the Hawaii Climate Institute.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

HED, EEP, FIN

HB 2334, HD1

(HSCR88-26)

Status

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects, as well as railroad, public transportation, or multimodal projects within the State, allowing streamlined environmental reviews.  Provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

TRN, EEP, JHA

HB 2451, HD1

(HSCR90-26)

Status

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires each county to implement fare-free access to its public transportation systems.  Establishes the Fare-Free Public Transportation Tax and Dividend Special Fund.  Increases the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax on petroleum products to fund fare-free public transportation.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

TRN, EEP, FIN

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

The following measure(s) were previously heard on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 9:45 a.m.  No public testimony will be accepted.

 

HB 2243

Status

RELATING TO ELECTRIC ENERGY.

Requires all electric utilities to provide transparent customer bill impact analyses that are accessible to the public in an electronic format reasonably usable by ratepayers.  Establishes requirements for bill impact analyses.  Requires electric utilities to submit annual reports to the Public Utilities Commission.

 

EEP, CPC

 

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FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.

 

For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-8400.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Nicole E. Lowen

Chair