STAND. COM. REP. NO. 890

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1020

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1020, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Hawaii State Energy Office, in collaboration with the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center at the University of Hawaii and Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to implement a Carbon Sequestration and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program and conduct an environmental assessment;

(2) Require the Hawaii State Energy Office to submit a progress report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2028; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the program, including a staff position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaiʻi State Energy Office; Ulupono Initiative; and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1020, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair