STAND. COM. REP. NO. 880

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 344

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. 344, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2026, require the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to have at least twenty-five percent of parking stalls be electric vehicle charger‑ready;

(2) Require the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities that include parking that can be retrofitted to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure and report to the Legislature;

(3) Establish a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready; and

(4) Appropriate funds to the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a cost assessment and perform or contract for the installation of retrofits and electric vehicle charging systems at high-priority state facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Transportation; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Coalition Earth; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association; Climate Future Forum; Hawaiian Electric; Ulupono Initiative; Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission; Hawaiʻi State Energy Office; Disability and Communication Access Board; and Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

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. 344, 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