HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	835
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to GAS APPLIANCES.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 2021, Hawaii was the first state to declare a climate emergency through the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 44, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, Regular Session of 2021. The legislature further finds that the State enacted a statutory zero emissions clean economy target, which endeavors "to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as quickly as practical, but no later than 2045".

One way to help the State achieve its zero emissions clean economy target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Installing appliances that use electricity instead of gas in new construction would substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the State achieve its zero emissions clean economy target.

The legislature further finds that over the past three years, the District of Columbia and various cities and counties in California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Washington have prohibited the installation of gas burning appliances, such as water heaters, refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, clothes dryers, air conditioners, decorative fireplaces, and other similar devices in new construction within their cities or counties.

In addition to emitting greenhouse gases, stoves, ovens, and other indoor appliances may harm human health by leaking hazardous air pollutants inside homes even when not in use, including cancer-causing benzene, according to a recent California study. Another recent study found that gas stove pollution causes roughly 12.7 per cent of childhood asthma in the United States, on par with second-hand smoke.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit, beginning January 1, 2025, the installation of gas appliances in new construction within the State.

SECTION 2. Section 196-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§196-5 Gas appliances [with pilot light] prohibited; exemptions. (a) [No new residential type] Beginning January 1, 2025, no gas appliance [that is equipped with a pilot light] shall be [sold or] installed in any new construction of a residential or commercial structure within the State [after June 30, 1980. Gas appliances sold after June 30, 1980, shall be equipped with an intermittent ignition system or other ignition devices in lieu of gas pilot lights].

(b) Beginning ninety days after [May 30, 1978,] June 30, 2023, the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office or its successor entity shall notify, in writing, all [retail sellers] installers of gas appliances doing business in the State of the provisions of this section.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply [to any hot water heaters with pilot lights or] to any gas appliance [which] that can be conclusively demonstrated by the equipment manufacturer, to the satisfaction of the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office or its successor entity, that the gas [pilot device in the] appliance[:

(1) Has a substantial lower life cycle cost than an electric ignition or other alternate ignition system;

(2) Is more energy efficient than available alternatives; or

(3) Is] is necessary to safeguard public health and safety.

[(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to people living in areas that are served with unreliable electric service or where it is not available.

(e)] (d) As used in this section[:

(1) "Gas], "gas appliance" includes any new residential type heater, refrigerator, stove, range, dishwasher, dryer, air conditioner, decorative fireplace, or other similar devices[;

(2) "Intermittent ignition device" means an ignition device which is activated only when the gas appliance is in operation; and

(3) "Pilot light" means any gas operated device that remains continually operated or lighted in order to ignite a gas appliance to normal operation]."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Gas Appliances; Prohibition; New Construction

Description:

Beginning 1/1/2025, prohibits the installation of gas appliances in new construction within the State.

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