SB 1339 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Summary

Establishes a statewide underground water and carbon sequestration resource characterization program via slim hole bores and a related statewide environmental assessment. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1339 → SB1339_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a House version to a Senate Draft 1 version, primarily changing the effective date of the law from July 1, 2025, to May 13, 2040. This significant delay means the program to characterize carbon sequestration and underground water resources will not begin operations for over 15 years. Other changes include minor formatting updates, slight wording adjustments to improve clarity, and technical revisions to the appropriation language.

Scope change

The scope of the program remains the same, but the timeline for implementation has been drastically extended by approximately 15 years.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to May 13, 2040, delaying the start of the carbon and water resource characterization program.

TECHNICAL

Minor wording adjustments were made to improve sentence flow and clarity in the legislative findings and program descriptions.

Header information, including bill numbers, dates, and template revisions, was updated to reflect the Senate Draft 1 status.

FISCAL

The language regarding the appropriation of funds was slightly rephrased to clarify that the position is established to support the Act's activities.

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

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from EIG/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 235) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Fevella.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:10PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to EIG/AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors