# Hawaii SB 1656: RELATING TO PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER.

Hawaii SB 1656, RELATING TO PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1656-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1656
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-23
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: DHHL, Kohala, Water Pump Storage Hydroelectric, Renewable Energy, GO Bonds, Feasibility Study, Environmental Impact Statement, Reports, Appropriation, HWN, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (5 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to finance the planning, designing, and construction of a water pump storage hydroelectric facility in the Kohala Mountains on Hawaii Island. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct a feasibility study and report the results to the Legislature. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement and submit an annual progress report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-04 | Senate | The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-02-13: Reported from HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 430) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura, Ihara, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 1:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to HWN, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_.PDF)
- SB1656_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_.PDF)
- [SB1656_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB1656_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1656-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).