HB 1598 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLIMATE INSTITUTE.

Summary

Establishes the Hawaii Climate Institute at the University of Hawaii to support climate resilience and adaptation initiatives of the University and the State. Requires a percentage of the revenue generated by any increase to the Transient Accommodations Tax rates beginning on January 1, 2026, and by assessment of the Transient Accommodations Tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares to be allocated to the University of Hawaii annually to support the programs and operations of the Hawaii Climate Institute. Transfers the International Pacific Research Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology to the Hawaii Climate Institute. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026

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What changed between versions

HB1598 → HB1598_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove specific details about the number of staff and faculty positions to be hired, replacing them with blank placeholders for future determination. Additionally, the appropriation amounts for the institute's core operations and research projects were removed and replaced with blank fields, while the effective date of the law was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding staffing and funding levels became undefined, leaving the specific number of positions and dollar amounts to be determined later.

REQUIREMENT

Specific requirements for hiring two administrative staff positions and five faculty positions across various university schools were removed and replaced with blank text.

FISCAL

The specific appropriation amount of $3,000,000 for core operations was removed and replaced with a blank field.

The specific appropriation amount of $3,000,000 for collaborative research projects was removed and replaced with a blank field.

The percentage of transient accommodations tax revenue to be allocated to the institute was changed from six percent to a blank field.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 127-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EEP.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HED, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors