SB 3326 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Summary

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to open a docketed proceeding no later than 9/1/2026, to conduct a comprehensive, objective, and independent analysis of the State's energy pathways. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB3326_SD1 → SB3326_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was fundamentally shifted from a mandate requiring immediate separation of electric generation and transmission services to a study requiring the Public Utilities Commission to first analyze the feasibility and impacts of such a separation. This change delays any structural industry restructuring until after a 2028 report is submitted, effectively pausing the original plan to force ownership separation.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from an immediate mandate for industry restructuring to a temporary study and authorization framework. The requirement for separation is now conditional on the completion of a study and subsequent legislative approval, rather than being an immediate obligation.

TIMELINE

The effective date was moved from July 1, 2050 to July 1, 2026, but the actual implementation is now contingent on a study report due in 2028.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules forcing separation was changed to a requirement to conduct a study on the desirability of such separation.

The study must specifically examine impacts on labor, neighbor islands, ratepayer savings, rate stability, system reliability, climate goals, and market competition.

The requirement for a single, expedited rulemaking proceeding was removed, allowing for a more flexible, study-driven process.

ELIGIBILITY

The strict prohibition on ownership of generation services by transmission utilities was removed and replaced with authorization for the commission to adopt rules only after the study.

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 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1537-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Kong; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP/LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1296-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M.; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garrett; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Kong, Reyes Oda; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela.

lower

Mar 19, 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, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to EEP/LAB, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 404) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

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 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPN/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2199) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

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, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lamosao ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

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, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN/EIG has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-10-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN/EIG deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 10:00AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 10:00AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN/EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 1 co-sponsor