SB 586 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Summary

Requires the counties to upgrade to zero emission buses by 2045. Requires the state agencies to prioritize zero emission buses in the procurement policy for purchasing or leasing motor vehicles. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 11, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB586 → SB586_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was significantly restructured from a single-county-focused transit mandate into a comprehensive climate action package requiring both counties and state agencies to adopt zero-emission buses by 2045. The revision adds explicit procurement requirements for state agencies, expands the definition of covered vehicles, and updates statutory references to align with current procurement codes. These changes broaden the bill's impact beyond just county transit operations to include state-level purchasing decisions, creating a unified approach to decarbonizing transportation across the state.

Scope change

Expanded from county-only mass transit mandates to include state agency procurement requirements and broader vehicle definitions

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit requirement for state agencies to prioritize zero-emission buses in procurement policies for purchasing or leasing motor vehicles

Added new procurement priority tiers for state agencies: zero-emission vehicles first, followed by plug-in hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles

Added requirement for Public Utilities Commission to amend administrative rules encouraging motor carriers to upgrade to zero-emission buses by 2045

TIMELINE

Added requirement that state cannot enter school bus contracts extending past January 1, 2045 unless the bus is zero-emission, with additional language requiring all school bus contracts to use zero-emission buses starting January 1, 2045

DEFINITION

Updated definitions to align with federal regulations and clarify vehicle categories including light-, medium-, and heavy-duty motor vehicles

SCOPE

Changed from requiring counties to eliminate fossil fuels from ground transportation to specifically requiring upgrade to zero-emission buses by 2045

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 237) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA/AEN, CPN/WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

6 primary · 2 co-sponsors