SB 2352 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Summary

Requires certain government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self-certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource system immediately. Requires certain government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 4/19/2042. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Feb 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2352 → SB2352_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision updates the administrative metadata to reflect its status as a Senate Bill (SD1) introduced by Senator Margaret McGary, with new effective dates in 2026. Substantively, the bill clarifies that solar energy systems are exempt from certain flood zone regulations if they meet specific criteria, while explicitly excluding member-owned electric cooperatives from the new self-certification process. The effective date for the Act is set to April 19, 2042.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly excludes member-owned electric cooperatives from the requirements to establish a self-certification process for solar systems.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption stating that member-owned electric cooperatives are not subject to the new self-certification process for solar systems.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'licensed design professional' to remove landscape architects from the list of eligible professionals.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the flood zone exemption criteria to require that the project be located outside a 'special flood hazard area' rather than a 'flood zone'.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to April 19, 2042.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata including sponsor name, bill type, and revision numbers to reflect the Senate version.

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

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Reported from EIG/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2284) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/WAM.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to EIG/GVO, CPN/WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

7 primary · 1 co-sponsor