HB 1981 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL AND GEOTHERMAL AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Summary

Establishes a Geothermal, Carbon Sequestration, and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program via slim hole bores and a related statewide environmental assessment. Appropriates funds for the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 17, 2026

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What changed between versions

HB1981 → HB1981_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove mandatory requirements for a statewide environmental assessment and community meetings, replacing them with a conditional requirement to seek funds and conduct assessments only after specific resources are found. The effective date was drastically changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, and the removal of a funding line item for permanent staff positions suggests a significant reduction in the program's operational scope and staffing.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a proactive, mandatory statewide assessment program to a reactive one where assessments are only required upon finding specific resources, and the program's active timeline was extended indefinitely into the future.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandate for the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment and meet with counties and communities before starting the program.

Added a requirement for the office to seek funds and conduct an environmental assessment only after finding a geothermal, carbon sequestration, or underground water resource, with input from Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.

TIMELINE

Changed the bill's effective date from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

Removed the requirement to submit a progress report to the legislature by May 2029 and replaced it with a requirement for an annual report on geothermal resource identification.

FISCAL

Removed the appropriation for a full-time equivalent permanent position to support the program's activities.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 312-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Matsumoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to EEP, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors