Local Bills

Curious to know how Hawai‘i is doing in our fight against climate change as a state?

 

The new legislative session is underway. Climate Protectors Hawaii is a participating member of the Hawaii Environmental Change Agents (HECA) that brings together advocacy groups to work together through the legislative session. There are a variety of task forces tracking bills. Join one that sparks your interest or take a look at HECA’s Action Now page to learn more about important bills that need your support today.

2022 climate/energy bills

First, we celebrate making a little history--Hawaii became the first state to declare a climate emergency!!!

Electric Vehicles (EV)

  • HB 424 State rental EV preference

  • HB 552 State fleet 100% of light duty passenger cars

  • EV by 2031 and all light duty vehicles by 2036

Electric Vehicle Chargers

  • HB1142 EV Charging infrastructure funded by 3 cents of Barrel tax, county enforcement

Energy Efficiency

  • SB932 Clean energy and energy efficiency loans, allows agency purchase of PV and EV

Carbon Sequestration

  • HB863 Forest stewardship funding DLNR tree nurseries' facilities

  • SB1162 Forest stewardship by DLNR, clarifies conditions for applicants

Sustainable Aviation fuel

  • HB683 grants to small businesses developing sustainable aviation fuels

Sea level rise

  • HB243 sea level rise, planning by Office of Planning for agencies' vulnerability and adaption

  • SB474 Seller disclosure for all properties sold in inundation zone

Farm/Local Food

  • HB767 Farm to school program to DOE with goal of 30% local by 2030

  • HB817 State agency purchase of local foodSB244 Food donation liability protection

  • SB512 Double up bucks, allowing $10 per purchase of fruits and vegetables under SNAP

Other

  • HB1176 Green Jobs Youth Program

  • HB1352 military lands contamination assessment

  • SB1402 DOT motor vehicle, bicycle, pathway and pedestrian networks

Resolutions passing

  • SCR44 Climate Emergency

  • HCR68 DOE landscape management plan for tree canopies on school campuses

Bills that died in conference and can be brought up next year:

  • HB550 energy efficiency, low carbon building materials (Senator Wakai deferred it)

  • HB1174 Renewable systems tax credit cap cut 50%–bad bill

  • HB1353 Energy Office lead on decarbonization (Senator Wakai deferred it)

  • SB167 green infrastructure planning

  • SB496 Top 10 fruits and vegetables for local food

  • SB768 Task force for determining feasibility of installing charging infrastructure by 2035, Task Force stacked with industry-bad bill

  • SB1401 Complete streets policies HRS 264-20.5.

2021 Bills signed by Governor Ige

No climate bills were vetoed.

Electric Vehicles

  • Electric vehicles State rental preference, HB424, Act 73

  • Electric Vehicle State goals: light duty cars by 2031 and other vehicles by 2036, HB552, Act 74

  • Electric Vehicle chargers funding, HB1142, Act 75

Local Food

  • Farm to school, HB767, Act 175

  • Agency local food purchases, HB817, Act 176

  • Double-up bucks, SB512, Act 177

Sea Level Rise

  • Sea level rise agency facilities planning, HB243, Act 178

  • Sea level rise sellers' disclosure, HB474, Act 179

Fossil Fuels

  • Aviation fuel grants, HB683, Act 180

Jobs

  • Green job corps, HB1176, Act 181.