STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 194
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.B. No. 1319
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1319 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARBON PRICING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Establish
a refundable tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax on taxpayers;
and
(2) Amend the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to address carbon emissions.
Your Committee
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and
Natural Resources; Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Americans
for Democratic Action Hawai‘i;
Faith Action for Community Equity; Imua Alliance; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii
Island Chapter, Citizens' Climate Lobby; Faith Action Environmental Justice Task
Force; Climate Protectors Coalition; Human Environmental Impacts Committee of
the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i;
Foresight/Policy Analysis; Blue Planet Foundation; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition
to this measure from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Food Industry
Association, Hawaii Transportation Association, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, and
three individuals. Your Committee
received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation, Department
of the Attorney General, Hawaii State Energy Office, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Life
of the Land, Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, and Sierra Club of Hawai‘i.
Your Committee finds that climate change is
the most critical issue confronting the State.
Putting a price on pollution, while giving revenues back to low- and
moderate-income residents, will accelerate Hawaii's transition to a clean
energy and transportation future without placing a burden on Hawaii's working
families.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Blanking the amounts specified for the tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax;
(2) Blanking the amounts specified for the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to address carbon emissions;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1319, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1319, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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