SB 1269 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES.

Summary

Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for continued exploration and identification of geothermal resources and commercial viability for utility-scale geothermal production in counties with a population of less than 300,000, with certain limitations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1269_HD2 → SB1269_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a House version to a Senate version, updating the effective date from the erroneous year 3000 to 2050. The Senate version also added specific details about Hawaii Island's potential for food security and clarified that research must include a commercial lens to ensure investor confidence.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on geothermal exploration in counties with populations under 300,000, but the Senate version adds context regarding food self-sufficiency on Hawaii Island.

TIMELINE

The effective date was corrected from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050.

SCOPE

Added language highlighting Hawaii Island's unique ability to support food self-sufficiency alongside energy production.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that geoscience research must include a commercial lens to ensure strategic development and investor confidence.

TECHNICAL

Updated formatting, headers, and metadata to reflect the Senate version of the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 602).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Amato, Iwamoto, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1501) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Pierick; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Marten.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP/ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1267) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Tam, Templo, Todd, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hussey; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Holt.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP/ECD, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 52) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 394) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDT, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors