STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1935

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1500

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1500, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Public Utilities Commission to appoint a receiver to take temporary action, should the Commission find it necessary, to assure continued adequate electric services from a failing investor-owned electric utility; and

(2) Require a receiver to recognize and maintain any existing collective bargaining agreement at the time of and throughout receivership and prohibit the receiver from inducing or causing a reduction in force, or terminating a covered employee, other than for cause consistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1260. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission and Hawaiian Electric.

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 S.B. No. 1500, S.D. 2, 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