Sen. Chris Lee

Establishes the Electric Vehicle Charging System and Infrastructure Funding Program and allows the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount to expend funds for the Program. Increases the amount of petroleum tax to be deposited into the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount. Appropriates funds.

Establishes the Performing Arts Grants Program to support performing arts in the State. Clarifies the scope of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' responsibilities to include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events. Allows the use of moneys from the Works of Art Special Fund for performing arts. Appropriates funds to provide grants under the Performing Arts Grants Program.

Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through which the DLNR shall, after 7/1/27, collect a fee from visitors for a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Special Fund. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment for, and subsequently administer, a Geothermal Resources Characterization Program under the direction of the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center at the University of Hawaii. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Civil Rights Commission to receive and investigate complaints related to acts of discrimination committed by transportation network company drivers against riders with service animals and report the results of its investigation to the Department of Transportation, which shall issue penalties to transportation network companies.

Maddy summarySB 1665 would limit foreign ownership of specific public and private utilities and companies that control the state's critical infrastructure, such as energy, water, or communications systems. It directly affects foreign-owned businesses operating in these sectors and state agencies responsible for infrastructure oversight. The bill establishes restrictions on foreign entities acquiring or maintaining ownership stakes in designated critical infrastructure providers. This is a policy change focused on ownership structure, not operational rules or funding. The bill is currently pending in committee review for the 2026 session.

Makes mandatory the suspension of the driver's license of a driver or registered owner of a vehicle for operating a motor vehicle without a motor vehicle insurance policy.

Prohibits any business established after January 1, 2026, that uses, rents, or offers for rent mopeds in the course of their commercial business, from using a combustion engine-powered moped. Establishes penalties.

Maddy summarySB 1196 establishes a fee on ridesharing services (like Uber or Lyft) within the state. The funds collected from this fee are required to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. This program supports concrete infrastructure improvements, such as safer crosswalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways near schools. The bill directly affects ridesharing companies operating in the state and benefits students and communities by funding school safety infrastructure.

Allows authorized employees of the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to inspect and provide a certificate of certain evidence of speed limit violations obtained by automated speed enforcement systems. Appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to establish and implement the automated speed enforcement systems program.