HB 1982 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Summary

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to engage in consultation with beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands regarding activities funded and to comply with the environmental impact statements law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1982_HD1 → HB1982_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from HD1 to HD2 and updated with new sponsor and clerk information. The primary substantive change expands the purpose of the funding to include the investigation and identification of geothermal resources, not just exploration. Additionally, the bill now mandates that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands consult with beneficiaries and comply with environmental impact statement laws before using the funds.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to include the investigation and identification of geothermal resources, and it now explicitly requires compliance with environmental impact statement laws.

TECHNICAL

Bill title and number changed from HB1982 HD1 to HB1982 HD2, with updated sponsor and clerk names.

The report title was updated to reflect the new beneficiary consultation and environmental impact statement requirements.

SCOPE

The purpose of the appropriated funds was expanded to include the 'investigation and identification' of geothermal resources in addition to exploration.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added mandating that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands consult with beneficiaries and comply with Chapter 343 (Environmental Impact Statements) regarding funded activities.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Perruso, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe voting no (5) and none excused (0).

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 474-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Hashem, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Poepoe, Cochran, Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Kahaloa.

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 30-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Matsumoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to EEP, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

20 primary · 1 co-sponsor