HawaiiSB 1372025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)Senate

RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

Sponsored By: Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic)

Passed

Summary

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider whether approving a proposed merger or acquisition would or would not further the State's renewable energy goals. Prohibits the acquiring entity of an electric utility company from terminating or attempting to renegotiate any existing and valid power purchase agreements and requires the acquiring entity to assume and be bound by existing collective bargaining agreements and retain all covered employees. Establishes a process to ensure that when an electric utility is subject to an application for a proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and seeks approval of the application from the Public Utilities Commission, the electric utility shall demonstrate that it solicited bids from potential acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model. Requires the electric utility to submit acceptable bids from a potential acquiring entity operating under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model concurrently with an application by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and the Public Utilities Commission to review those applications concurrently. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Public Utilities CommissionElectric Utility CompaniesAcquisitionsMergersConsolidationsApplication Review ProcessAlternative ApplicationsNon-Investor-Owned Utilities Ownership ModelsCollective Bargaining AgreementsPower Purchase AgreementsEEP, CPC, FIN

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jarrett Keohokalole

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Henry J.C. Aquino

    Democratic • Senate

  • Stanley Chang

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lynn DeCoite

    Democratic • Senate

  • Troy N. Hashimoto

    Democratic • Senate

  • Karl Rhoads

    Democratic • Senate

  • III Richards

    Democratic • Senate

  • Joy A. San Buenaventura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Glenn Wakai

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 92 • No: 1

House vote 3/14/2025

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC...

Yes: 46 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/4/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2025

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2025

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/31/2025

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 3 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

    12/8/2025
  2. The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

    3/19/2025House
  3. Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1246) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

    3/14/2025House
  4. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4).

    3/14/2025House
  5. Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 03-19-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/14/2025House
  6. The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.

    3/12/2025House
  7. The committee(s) on EEP recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-12-25 11:15AM.

    3/11/2025House
  8. Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-12-25 11:15AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/11/2025House
  9. Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 03-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/7/2025House
  10. Pass First Reading

    3/6/2025House
  11. Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19

    3/6/2025House
  12. Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

    3/4/2025Senate
  13. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 96) in amended form (SD 2).

    3/4/2025House
  14. Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 985) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

    2/28/2025Senate
  15. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.

    2/28/2025Senate
  16. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    2/26/2025Senate
  17. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    2/26/2025Senate
  18. The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

    2/21/2025Senate
  19. Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 165) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

    2/10/2025Senate
  20. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

    2/10/2025Senate
  21. The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.

    1/31/2025Senate
  22. The committee(s) on CPN deferred the measure until 01-31-25 9:35AM; Conference Room 229.

    1/28/2025Senate
  23. The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

    1/23/2025Senate
  24. Referred to CPN, JDC/WAM.

    1/17/2025Senate
  25. Introduced and passed First Reading.

    1/15/2025Senate

Bill Text

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