STAND. COM. REP. NO. 540

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1088

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 1088 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide rebates for the installation of eligible electric vehicle-ready parking stalls for new construction of affordable housing.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii State Energy Office; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauaʻi; Hawaiian Electric; Ulupono Initiative; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association; Coalition Earth; Hawaiʻi Energy; Alliance for Automotive Innovation; and one individual.

Your Committees find that the State's decarbonization and emissions-reduction goals necessitate the rapid transition to zero-emission vehicles that utilize local, renewable energy sources. Your Committees also find that while there is growing adoption of electric vehicles among Hawaii residents, the lack of adequate vehicle charging infrastructure presents a barrier to widespread adoption, particularly for low-income families who are unable to access the savings and other benefits associated with electric vehicle ownership. Additionally, parking stalls for affordable housing units are not constructed to be electric vehicle-ready because of the added cost and certain exemptions. This measure provides incentives for electric vehicle-ready new construction for affordable housing, offering more equitable participation in the net-negative carbon economy and further assisting the State in meeting its decarbonization goals and other emissions-reduction commitments.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1088 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair