SB 588 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Summary

Authorizes certain government entities to establish a self-certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource systems and exempt the systems from the Federal Emergency Management Agency No-Rise/No-Impact declaration requirements under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB588_SD1 → SB588_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was updated from the first draft (SD1) to the second draft (SD2) by changing the legislative session number, updating metadata and tracking dates, and most significantly, extending the bill's effective date from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050. The core policy allowing self-certification for small solar projects remains the same, but the implementation timeline has been delayed by nearly a decade.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding eligible projects and the self-certification process remains unchanged; however, the applicability of the law is now limited to a much later timeframe.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050, delaying when the new solar permitting rules will take effect.

TECHNICAL

The legislative session designation was updated from the 33rd Legislature, S.D. 1 to S.D. 2, and various internal tracking numbers and dates were adjusted.

REQUIREMENT

Minor text edits were made to clarify that the permitting process must not add costs or delays and to ensure consistency in referencing flood hazard maps.

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 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, CPC, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 172) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from EIG/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 62) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 30, 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 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EIG/GVO, CPN.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor