STAND. COM. REP. NO. 659-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2423

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2423, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all state building construction projects and state highway projects to use building and construction materials that seek to reduce their carbon footprint, where feasible and cost effective.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, 350Hawaii.org, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that reducing a building's or highway's carbon footprint is increasingly important in building and highway design. This measure acknowledges the role building and construction materials can play in climate change mitigation and the sequestration of greenhouse gases. Your Committee further finds that the State must continue to actively explore new innovations for sustainability, which will also provide a greater opportunity for the State to achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2423, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair