STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1628

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 179

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 179 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING INCREASED CAUTION CONCERNING FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN HAWAII'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge increased caution concerning foreign influence in Hawaii's critical infrastructure.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.

Your Committees find that critical infrastructure systems, such as transportation hubs, water systems, and electrical grids are essential to the State's local economy, public health and safety, and overall stability. Your Committees further find that numerous federal national security agencies have demonstrated that foreign governments, including those of adversarial countries, are actively seeking ways to access and control this critical infrastructure across the country. Your Committees conclude that protecting Hawaii's critical infrastructure systems is imperative to ensuring the resiliency, public trust, and strength across the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Legislature affirms Hawaii's path to financial and economic security, resiliency, and self‑determination by urging increased caution concerning foreign influence in Hawaii's critical infrastructure;

(2) Adding language that calls on departments and agencies to accelerate the elimination of Hawaii's dependence on all imported fuels for electricity generation and intra‑state transportation as soon as possible, but no later than 2045;

(3) Adding language that calls for ending the State's reliance on all imported fuels for electricity generation and intra-state transportation as quickly as possible, but no later than 2045, to maximize long term cost reduction for local families, achieve increased energy security and resiliency;

(4) Adding language that requests the Department of Transportation, Public Utilities Commission, and all other departments and agencies to take action to decrease the State's reliance on imported fuels;

(5) Specifying that a certified copy be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, rather than the Attorney General;

(6) Updating legislative findings;

(7) Amending the title accordingly; and

(8) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 179, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 179, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair