HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	937
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to transportation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many major vehicle manufacturers are planning to phase out the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2035. The largest vehicle markets in California, New York, Europe, and other areas have already prohibited the sale of fossil fuel vehicles beyond 2035. However, rental fleets in Hawaii will be unable to adapt unless sufficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure is available at rental hubs, including airports, and destinations, including hotels and visitor attractions.

The legislature further finds that due to their size, public vehicle fleets and rental motor vehicle fleets are responsible for the largest sources of vehicle pollution. In an effort to address this issue, the legislature enacted Act 74, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, to require all state-owned, light duty motor vehicles to be zero-emission vehicles by the end of 2035. The legislature recognizes that transitioning rental motor vehicle fleets to zero-emission vehicles will reduce carbon emissions and increase the number of zero-emissions vehicles entering the secondary market, making clean electric vehicles more affordable and lowering the cost of transportation for local residents.

Finally, the legislature finds that transitioning to zero‑emission rental fleets will demonstrate to visitors that Hawaii is keeping pace with the innovation and electrification of transportation of cities across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require lessors of rental motor vehicles to incorporate zero-emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or both, into the lessor's rental motor vehicle fleets.

SECTION 2. Chapter 437D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§437D- Rental vehicle transition. (a) Each lessor shall incorporate either zero-emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or both, into each of the lessor's rental motor vehicle fleets in the State according to the following schedule:

(1) By January 1, 2027, at least thirty per cent of all vehicles in each fleet shall be zero-emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or both;

(2) By January 1, 2031, at least sixty per cent of all vehicles in each fleet shall be zero-emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or both; and

(3) By January 1, 2035, one hundred per cent of all vehicles in each fleet shall be zero-emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or both.

(b) As used in this section:

"Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" means a light duty truck, sports utility vehicle, or van that:

(1) Has four or more wheels;

(2) Is able to be plugged into, and draw charge from, a standard electric vehicle charger;

(3) Draws propulsion from a battery; and

(4) Has an internal combustion engine that may be used to either propel the vehicle directly or produce electricity to recharge the battery.

"Zero-emission vehicle" includes:

(1) Electric vehicles, as defined in section 291-71; and

(2) Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that have four or more wheels and draw propulsion from electricity generated by passing hydrogen through a fuel cell."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Rental Motor Vehicles; Zero-emission Vehicles; Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

Description:

Requires lessors of rental motor vehicles to incorporate zero‑emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or both, into the lessor's rental motor vehicle fleets.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.