SB 1656 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER.

Summary

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to finance the planning, designing, and construction of a water pump storage hydroelectric facility in the Kohala Mountains on Hawaii Island. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct a feasibility study and report the results to the Legislature. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement and submit an annual progress report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1656 → SB1656_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a new Section 2 requiring a feasibility study before any bonds are issued, and a new Section 3 mandating an environmental impact statement. A new Section 5 requires annual progress reports to the legislature. The effective date of the law was significantly delayed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050, likely to allow time for the required studies and planning.

Scope change

The bill now includes mandatory pre-construction studies and reporting requirements that were not present in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct a feasibility study evaluating costs and environmental impacts before issuing bonds.

Added a requirement to conduct an environmental impact statement in accordance with state law.

TIMELINE

Added a requirement for the department to submit an annual progress report detailing expenditures and project milestones.

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050.

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 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 430) 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 HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura, Ihara, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 1:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HWN, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.