STAND. COM. REP. NO. 282

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1341

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1341 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY INDUSTRY INFORMATION REPORTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Add the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to the list of agencies that may examine the energy industry information statements submitted pursuant to section 486J-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2) Add the promotion of emergency management and critical infrastructure protection as relevant purposes of the Energy Data Collection Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Department of Law Enforcement; Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency; and Hawaiʻi State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that the energy sector is vitally important to the functioning of emergency communication systems and for powering backups during natural disasters. Additionally, the energy sector has been identified as the most important critical infrastructure sector for communities during disaster and other emergency incidents. Your Committee further finds that this measure will help the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to construct sound emergency operation plans, examine the vulnerabilities of local and county communities, and assess the capabilities of emergency response and recovery plans for varying natural and man-made disasters.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1341 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________

BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair