All Roll Calls
Yes: 239 • No: 27
HawaiiSB 8972025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)SenateWALLET
RELATING TO ENERGY.
Sponsored By: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Allows electric cooperatives to recover wildfire mitigation, repair, and restoration costs through an automatic rate adjustment or other mechanism. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to initiate a proceeding for the adoption of rules, subject to the Governor's approval, to determine an aggregate limit for liability for economic damages from a covered catastrophic wildfire. Authorizes securitization of certain costs for electric utilities. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to conduct studies on whether the framework established in the measure adequately balances electric utility interests and compensation owed to catastrophic wildfire victims and on the establishment and implementation of a wildfire recovery fund and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys. (CD1)
DCCAPUCEnergyElectric UtilitiesAggregate Liability LimitSecuritizationElectric Utility Infrastructure ResilienceStudyReportAppropriationEEP, CPC/JHA, FIN
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Co-op customers may pay wildfire costs
Electric cooperatives may recover commission-approved wildfire mitigation, repair, and restoration costs through an automatic rate adjustment or another approved tariff. Customers in the cooperative’s service area may pay those costs through their electricity rates. The law does not state the amount or timing of a rate change.
Wildfire victims face claim limits
For qualifying property damage from a covered wildfire, an electric utility’s total liability is limited by a maximum set by the Public Utilities Commission. The fire must damage more than 500 structures, or more than 50 when an electric cooperative is involved. The utility must have an approved wildfire plan, follow its timeline, and meet commission rules. Claims must be filed where the fire happened; courts approve settlements and judgments, and capped liability cannot be shifted to another party. The limit covers economic property damage, not bodily or emotional harm.
Customers pay for resilience bonds
The law lets utilities issue bonds for approved resilience projects and charge current and future customers in the service area. The charge is separate from regular rates and may be based on electricity use, a flat amount, or customer revenues by class. It can include tax amounts and be adjusted at least once a year; charges continue until the bonds and financing costs are paid. The first $500 million in qualifying investments must use this law, and financing orders are capped at $500 million per utility corporate family. Scheduled final payments cannot be more than 30 years away. If enforcement leaves money after bond and financing costs are paid, the utility must return the surplus to customers. The State and local governments do not guarantee these bonds with tax revenue.
Hawaii funds utility regulation work
Hawaii provides $500,000, or as much as needed, from general revenues for consultant contracts in fiscal year 2025–2026. The Public Utilities Commission must use the money for purposes of the law. This is not a direct household payment.
Utility leaders face wildfire pay limits
A utility with a financing order cannot increase executive pay unless the commission has approved its wildfire-plan compliance reports for five straight years. The commission may consider an alternative performance incentive. This rule does not set household electricity rates.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Dru Mamo Kanuha
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/30/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 10
Senate vote • 4/30/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 20 • No: 5
House vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....
Yes: 3 • No: 1
Senate vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 4/3/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 44 • No: 5
House vote • 3/31/2025
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 14 • No: 0
House vote • 3/18/2025
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 3/18/2025
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 9 • No: 1
House vote • 3/14/2025
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC...
Yes: 44 • No: 3
House vote • 3/13/2025
The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 23 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/27/2025
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/11/2025
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/11/2025
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 3 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/4/2025
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act 258, 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1361).
7/1/2025SenateAct 258, on 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1361).
7/1/2025HouseReceived notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821).
5/2/2025SenateEnrolled to Governor.
5/2/2025SenateReceived notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888).
5/1/2025HouseReceived notice of change in conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817).
4/30/2025SenatePassed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 20; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Chang, DeCoite, Fukunaga, Kim, Lee, C., McKelvey, Rhoads, San Buenaventura, Wakai. Noes, 5 (Senator(s) Awa, Elefante, Gabbard, Ihara, Keohokalole). Excused, 0 (none).
4/30/2025SenatePassed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Garcia, Garrett, Ilagan, La Chica, Matayoshi, Pierick, Poepoe, Tam, Templo voting no (10) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
4/30/2025HouseConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 309.
4/25/2025SenateHouse Conferees Changed: Representative Takenouchi added as Co-Chair. Representative Yamashita discharged as Co-Chair.
4/25/2025HouseConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:50 PM; Conference Room 309.
4/25/2025SenateThe Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Hashimoto, Kanuha, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole.
4/25/2025SenateThe Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Tarnas, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Matayoshi.
4/25/2025HouseReported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 219).
4/25/2025Senate48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.
4/25/2025SenateReported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 219) as amended in (CD 1).
4/25/2025HouseForty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.
4/25/2025HouseConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 12:00 PM; Conference Room 309.
4/24/2025SenateConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 5:00 PM; Conference Room 309.
4/24/2025SenateConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 8:00 PM; Conference Room 309.
4/24/2025SenateConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 9:14AM in conference room 325.
4/24/2025HouseBill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-24-25 9:15AM in conference room 325.
4/23/2025HouseReceived notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754).
4/21/2025SenateSenate Conferees Changed: Senator Kanuha added as Co-Chair. Senator Rhoads added as Conferee. Senator Wakai discharged as Chair. Senator Hashimoto discharged as Co-Chair; Added as Chair.
4/21/2025SenateReceived notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 849).
4/21/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
Original
SB897_CD1
SB897_HD1
SB897_HD2
SB897_SD1
SB897_SD1_PROPOSED
SB897_SD2
SB897_SD3
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