# Hawaii SB 3081: RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE THE POTENTIAL OF UNDERGROUND ENERGY RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Hawaii SB 3081, RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE THE POTENTIAL OF UNDERGROUND ENERGY RESOURCES STATEWIDE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-19 (Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1216-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB3081-2026
- 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 3081
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE THE POTENTIAL OF UNDERGROUND ENERGY RESOURCES STATEWIDE.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-26
- Last action: 2026-03-19, Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1216-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Hawaii State Energy Office, Water Resources, Geothermal Exploration, University of Hawaii, Reports, Appropriation, EEP, WAL, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (95 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes the Underground Energy Resource Characterization Program to identify the location and characteristics of accessible geothermal heat and carbon sequestration resources through the use of slim-hole bores and requires a related environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-19 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL... | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-17 | House | The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-03-19: Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1216-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL. (House)
- 2026-03-19: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). (House)
- 2026-03-17: The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 03-17-26 9:15AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-10: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-10: Referred to EEP, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 16 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 104) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2828) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: One Day Notice 03-06-26. (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Reported from EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2453) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Richards. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-17-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to EIG, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_.PDF)
- SB3081_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_HD1_.HTM)
- SB3081_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_.PDF)
- [SB3081_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB3081_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3081_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB3081-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).