SB 588 Hawaii Senate · 2025 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 Mar 11, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB588_SD1 → SB588_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision updates the formatting and numbering of a renewable energy bill while adding new substantive provisions. The changes include renumbering sections, adding a new section on FEMA No-Rise/No-Impact declaration exemptions, and clarifying definitions for solar distributed energy resource systems. These modifications aim to streamline permitting for residential solar projects and reduce administrative barriers for renewable energy deployment.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new exemptions from FEMA No-Rise/No-Impact declaration requirements for solar projects in regulatory floodways, and added guidance development requirements for government entities.

REQUIREMENT

Added new Section 2(d) requiring government entities to develop FEMA-accepted guidance for determining when No-Rise Certifications are not required for solar projects in regulatory floodways.

Added new Section 2(c) requiring project owners to comply with codes, install systems on existing structures, and avoid creating additional obstructions in regulatory floodways.

DEFINITION

Added clear definition of 'solar distributed energy resource system' to include both solar energy-generating and energy-storing materials with related infrastructure.

ENFORCEMENT

Added Section 3 requiring the revisor of statutes to substitute appropriate section numbers for letters used in designating new sections during codification.

TIMELINE

Added Section 5 establishing July 1, 2050 as the effective date for the Act.

TECHNICAL

Changed document metadata from SD1 to SD2, updated author information, and renumbered sections from 196- to 196-A and 196-B for proper statutory designation.

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

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