HCR 168 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

REQUEST THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A TEMPORARY WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE CURRENT CAPACITY OF UTILITY SERVICES, THE EXPECTED LIFESPAN OF EXISTING COASTLINE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF NECESSARY EXPANSIONS.

This House Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to create a temporary working group to evaluate the state's utility infrastructure capacity and lifespan, particularly for the City and County of Honolulu. The working group will include representatives from government agencies, utility companies, and labor unions to assess current service levels, identify aging infrastructure, and analyze the costs of expanding systems to meet growing community demands. The study aims to provide data on potential funding gaps, projected rate increases, and whether existing permits are straining utility capacity, ultimately supporting more informed community planning and infrastructure investment decisions.

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action Apr 2, 2026

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What changed between versions

HCR168 → HCR168_HD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope from a general statewide study to one specifically focused on the City and County of Honolulu. The composition of the working group was significantly reorganized to include new leadership roles (such as the Consumer Advocate and Directors of Transportation and Emergency Management) while removing specific industry representatives like Charter Communications and IBEW Local 1260 from the initial list, though some were later added back in a different order. The final list of recipients for the resolution was also updated to reflect these new roles and entities.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from a general statewide utility study to a specific study for the City and County of Honolulu.

SCOPE

The resolution text was changed to explicitly limit the study to the City and County of Honolulu.

REQUIREMENT

New members were added to the working group, including the Consumer Advocate, Directors of Transportation and Emergency Management, and the Director of Land and Natural Resources.

Specific members were removed from the initial working group list, including the CEO of Charter Communications, IBEW Local 1260, and a representative of a telecommunications carrier.

The working group chair was changed from the PUC Chair to a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker.

The working group chair was clarified to include the Chairperson's designee as the Chair of the working group.

New members were added to the working group, including a member of the State Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and a representative from Hawaiian Electric.

The list of entities receiving certified copies of the resolution was updated to include the new directors and advocates while removing specific industry CEOs from the recipient list.

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

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1763-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Lowen, Tam.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

7 primary · 1 co-sponsor