Priorities at First Crossover

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Below is an update of our bill priorities as of first crossover, when bills that were introduced in the House “crossover” to the Senate and vice versa. Crossover is often used like a halfway point in session, as the bills introduced in one chamber are now up for consideration in their non-originating chamber.

Carbon Free Hawaiʻi

  • Carbon Pricing

    • HB 1584 - [Support] University of Hawaiʻi to conduct a comprehensive study of a statewide carbon tax. HRE/EET, WAM.

  • Clean Energy

    • HB 307 - [Oppose] Broadens the definition of "renewable energy" to include other self-replenishing non-fossil fuel resources. EET/CPH.

    • HB 550 - [Support] Public Utilities Commission to study implementing Renewable Portfolio Standards for gas utility companies. Accelerates the renewable energy goals for 2030 and 2040. EET, CPH/WAM.

    • HB 556 - [Support] State to adopt appliance efficiency standards. EET, CPH.

    • SB 1323 - [Support] State to adopt appliance efficiency standards. EEP/EDB, CPC, FIN.

Planning for Rising Seas

  • Mandatory sea level rise exposure area disclosure in real estate transactions

    • SB 1126 - [Support] Requires seller disclosures in sea level rise exposure areas to ensure that new property owners and transferees understand the special hazards, requirements, and limitations that may affect the property. WLH/EEP, JUD.

    • SB 1339 - [Support] Requires a purchaser statement with the sale or transfer of vulnerable coastal real estate. WLH/EEP, CPC, FIN.

    • SB 1340 - [Support] Requires mandatory seller disclosures in real estate transactions within a sea level rise exposure area. WLH/EEP, CPC, FIN.

  • Strengthening Coastal Zone Management Laws

    • HB 549 - [Support] Requires new developments to plan for the impacts of projected sea level rise and prohibits development in areas significantly affected by projected sea level rise. AEN/WTL, JDC/WAM.

    • SB 393 - [Support] Amends coastal zone management laws to further protect against impacts of sea level rise and coastal erosion. Requires new developments to plan for the impacts of projected sea level rise. Prohibits development in areas significantly affected by projected sea level rise. EEP/WLH, FIN.

  • Sea Level Rise planning

    • HB 461 - [Support] Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to conduct certain activities to address the impacts of sea level rise and report to the Legislature before the 2021 Regular Session. AEN/WTL, WAM.

    • HB 765 - [Support] Requires incorporation of sea level rise projections in all new plans and updates to existing state plans generated under the Hawaiʻi State Planning Act. WTL/AEN, WAM.

    • HB 1487 - [Support] Establishes the Honolulu shoreline climate protection pilot project to develop a plan to protect urban Honolulu from the acute impacts of sea level rise, floodwater, storms, and other impacts of a rapidly changing climate. AEN/WTL, WAM.

    • SB 944 - [Support] Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to prioritize nature-based solutions in its climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and assess risk transfer market mechanisms that promote investments in nature to reduce the risks of climate change. EEP, WLH, FIN.

    • SB 1054 - [Support] Requires the State and counties to incorporate sea level rise and other climate change hazards and mitigation opportunities into applicable plans, strategies, and mapping. Requires the PUC to consider the findings in the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report. EEP/WLH, CPC, FIN.

Protecting Streams and Marine Ecosystems

    • HB 1326 - [Oppose] Allows holdover permits for stream diversions to continue. WTL, WAM.

    • HB 808/SB 489 - [Support] Prohibits and establishes penalties for any person who knowingly captures, possesses, abuses, entangles, or kills any shark within state waters. Expands the existing protection for rays within state waters.

    • HB 551 - [Support] Extends lapse date for a study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas and the cesspool conversion working group's comprehensive cesspool conversion plan. AEN/CPH/HRE, WAM.

    • SB 696- [Support] Extends the life of the cesspool conversion working group and provides additional funds for the study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas and completion of the comprehensive cesspool conversion plan. EEP, FIN.

Land Use and Development

    • HB 593 - [Oppose] Authorizes the development of utility scale solar projects on “A” rated agricultural lands, subject to certain requirements. WTL/EET, WAM.

    • SB 379 - [Support] Allows the governor to negotiate land exchanges to acquire lands suitable for long-term diversified agricultural production in return for state lands to be developed for housing. WLH/AGR/HSG, FIN.
       

Administrative

  • Creation of State Department of Environment

    • HB 1586 - [Support] Establishes and transfers to a “Department of Environment” certain programs administered by various state agencies. EET/AEN, WAM.

  • Department of Land and Natural Resources funding

    • HB1171 - [Support]. WTL, WAM. DLNR-DOFAW operating budget bill that would provide $5M to programs including:

      • Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) prevention, early detection-rapid response, control, and outreach projects;

      • Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) research and response; and

      • Wildfire response.

    • SB923 / SB924 / SB1490 - [Support] DLNR operating budget bills with duplicative parts. All include funding for HISC, ROD, Legacy Land Conservation Fund, and other DLNR priorities. WLH, FIN.

Waste Reduction

  • Plastics

    • HB 762 – [Support] Prohibits providing straws unless requested. AEN/CPH, JDC.

    • SB 11 – [Support] Polystyrene Foam Ban. EEP/EDB, CPC/JUD, FIN.

    • SB 367 – [Support] Single-use Plastics Ban. EEP, CPC/JUD, FIN.

    • SB 522 – [Support] Single-use Plastics Ban and Working Group. EEP/EDB, CPC/JUD, FIN.

  • Recycling

    • HB 630 - [Oppose] Repeal Glass Container Program. AEN, WAM.

    • SB 893 – [Support] Recycling 1 & 2 bottle caps. EEP, FIN.

Common Good Coalition

  • Automatic Voter Registration

    • HB 1217 - [Support] Automatic Voter Registration for driver's license and identification card applications. TRS, JDC.

    • HB 1485 - [Support] Establishes a process for automatically preregistering or registering public school-enrolled students who are at least 16 years old. EDU/JDC.

    • SB 412 - [Support] Automatic Voter Registration for driver's license and identification card applications. JUD, FIN.

  • Taxation of Real Estate Investment Trusts

  • Social Services

    • SB 390 - [Support] Department of Agriculture to create a dollar-for-dollar match program for beneficiaries of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program who purchase Hawaii-grown produce. AGR, FIN.