SB 191 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

Summary

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist eligible households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB191_HD1 → SB191_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to finalize the creation of the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by specifying funding amounts, staffing levels, and program goals. The changes shift the focus from general administrative setup to providing concrete financial resources and defining the program's purpose as helping families make homes more energy-efficient. Additionally, the effective date was moved from the distant future of 3000 to December 31, 2050, allowing the program to begin operations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a vague proposal to a funded initiative with specific staffing requirements and a defined goal of improving home energy efficiency for low-income households.

FISCAL

Added a specific appropriation of $5,000,000 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to fund the new program.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the program's purpose to explicitly require assistance with making recipients' homes more energy-efficient to reduce electricity costs.

Specified staffing levels, adding one full-time equivalent position and two temporary full-time equivalent positions.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000, to December 31, 2050, enabling the program to start soon.

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

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1475), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Marten.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP/HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1245) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia.

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 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP/HSH, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 108) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Aquino, Fevella.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 148) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/WAM.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-27-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, CPN/WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors