HB 2608 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WATER HEATING SYSTEMS.

Summary

Authorizes building permit variances for certain high-efficiency electric water heating systems utilizing heat pump technology. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB2608 → HB2608_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision removes the requirement to expand tax credits for heat pumps, instead focusing solely on allowing building permits for high-efficiency electric water heaters as an alternative to solar systems. It also updates the effective date to July 1, 3000, and clarifies that gas water heaters are only permitted if another gas appliance is installed in the home.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from a dual approach of allowing heat pump variances AND expanding tax credits to a singular focus on permitting heat pump variances, while retaining the existing tax credit structure for solar and wind.

FISCAL

Removed the specific legislative intent and statutory language to expand the renewable energy tax credit to include high-efficiency electric water heating systems.

REQUIREMENT

Added a condition requiring at least one other gas appliance to be installed in the dwelling for a gas demand water heater to be approved.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from 'upon approval' to 'July 1, 3000'.

SCOPE

Simplified the stated purpose of the Act to only authorize building permit variances for heat pumps, removing the language about expanding tax credits.

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

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to EIG, CPN.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 126).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 719-26), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 84-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

lower

Feb 5, 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

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to EEP, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 6

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors