# Hawaii SB 1500: RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

Hawaii SB 1500, RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Glenn Wakai (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-07-02 (Act 277, 07/02/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1380).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1500-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1500
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-07-02, Act 277, 07/02/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1380).
- Sponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: PUC, Regulated Investor-Owned Electric Utilities, Electric Services, Appointment of Receiver, EEP/LAB, CPC, FIN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 13 (228 yes, 2 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to appoint a receiver to take temporary action necessary to assure continued adequate electric services from failing regulated investor-owned electric utilities. Requires an appointed receiver to recognize and maintain the terms and conditions of any existing collective bargaining agreement and prohibits the receiver from inducing or causing a reduction in force, or terminating a covered employee, other than for a cause consistent with any collective bargaining agreement. (CD1)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Job protections for utility workers: benefit, medium. During a utility receivership, the receiver must keep the terms of any collective bargaining agreement in place when the receivership began. The receiver cannot lay off or fire workers covered by that agreement, except for cause allowed by the agreement.
- State intervention for failing power utilities: mixed, low. Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission can appoint a temporary receiver for a regulated investor-owned electric utility that is failing or at risk of failing and poses a serious threat to health, safety, and welfare. After notice and a hearing, the commission can also appoint a receiver if the utilit…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 1 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-03 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 1 |   |
| 2025-03-31 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-19 | House | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC... | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-26 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | Senate | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | Senate | The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (54)

- 2025-07-02: Act 277, 07/02/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1380). (Senate)
- 2025-07-02: Act 277, on 07/02/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1380). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-02: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Kong voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:50 PM; Conference Room 224. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:30 PM; Conference Room 224. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Wakai, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Sayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Reyes Oda. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 202). (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 202) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 1:30PM; Conference Room 224. (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 1:30PM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2025-04-22: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 1:35PM; Conference Room 224. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754). (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: House Conferees Appointed: Lowen, Sayama, Matayoshi, Takenouchi Co-Chairs; Reyes Oda. (House)
- 2025-04-17: Senate Conferees Appointed: Keohokalole Chair; Wakai Co-Chair; Richards, Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 829). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 495). (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 590). (House)
- 2025-04-03: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1935), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-03: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Kong voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-03-31: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Holt, Ward. (House)
- 2025-03-28: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-31-25 3:15PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1473), recommending referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5). (House)
- 2025-03-19: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Marten. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 03-19-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Reported from EEP/LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1206) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Ward, Woodson excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-11: 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. (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP/LAB on Tuesday, 03-11-25 11:15AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to EEP/LAB, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 355) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 832) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-02-24: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:04AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from CPN/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 537) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Richards, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: The committee(s) on CPN/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to CPN/EIG, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1380_.PDF)
- SB1500_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_CD1_.HTM)
- SB1500_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_HD1_.HTM)
- SB1500_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_SD1_.HTM)
- SB1500_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_SD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1380_.PDF)
- [SB1500_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB1500_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB1500_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB1500_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1500_SD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1500-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).