SB 964 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY.

Summary

Authorizes the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a publicprivate partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below 800,000. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Energy

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 · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB964 → SB964_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill changed from requiring the State Energy Office to build waste-to-energy facilities to merely authorizing them to do so, giving the agency discretion rather than a mandate. Additionally, the specific duties of the office were rephrased to clarify that these actions are authorized powers rather than strict obligations. This shift reduces the legal pressure on the state to implement the project immediately.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a mandatory requirement to an optional authorization for the State Energy Office.

REQUIREMENT

The primary obligation to establish a waste-to-energy facility was changed from 'shall' (mandatory) to 'may' (discretionary), allowing the state to choose whether to proceed.

Specific duties listed for the State Energy Office were rephrased from mandatory commands ('shall') to authorized actions ('shall provide' or 'shall lead' following bracketed removal of the original verb), clarifying the nature of these responsibilities.

The bill title and summary were updated to reflect that the legislation 'authorizes' rather than 'requires' the state office to act.

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, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 231) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) McKelvey, Richards. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Lee, C.). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 28, 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, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Lee, C..

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-28-25 10:35AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 21) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 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, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Chang, DeCoite.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 3:15PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors