# Hawaii SB 897: RELATING TO ENERGY.

Hawaii SB 897, RELATING TO ENERGY., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Act 258, 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1361).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB897-2025
- 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 897
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO ENERGY.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-07-01, Act 258, 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1361).
- Sponsor: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: DCCA, PUC, Energy, Electric Utilities, Aggregate Liability Limit, Securitization, Electric Utility Infrastructure Resilience, Study, Report, Appropriation, EEP, CPC/JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 15 (239 yes, 27 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## 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)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Hawaii funds utility regulation work: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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.
- Co-op customers may pay wildfire costs: cost, medium. 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 amoun…
- Wildfire victims face claim limits: cost, medium. 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 wi…
- Customers pay for resilience bonds: mixed, medium. 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…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 40 | 10 |   |
| 2025-04-30 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 20 | 5 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 3 | 1 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-03 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 44 | 5 |   |
| 2025-03-31 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 1 |   |
| 2025-03-14 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC... | pass | 44 | 3 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | 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 | 23 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-27 | 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 | 3 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | Senate | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (69)

- 2025-07-01: Act 258, 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1361). (Senate)
- 2025-07-01: Act 258, on 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1361). (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: Received notice of change in conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817). (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed 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). (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed 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). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 309. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: House Conferees Changed: Representative Takenouchi added as Co-Chair. Representative Yamashita discharged as Co-Chair. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:50 PM; Conference Room 309. (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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Hashimoto, Kanuha, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole. (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, Tarnas, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Matayoshi. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 219). (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. 219) 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 04-24-25 12:00 PM; Conference Room 309. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 5:00 PM; Conference Room 309. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 8:00 PM; Conference Room 309. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 9:14AM in conference room 325. (House)
- 2025-04-23: Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-24-25 9:15AM in conference room 325. (House)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754). (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Senate 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. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 849). (House)
- 2025-04-17: House Conferees Appointed: Lowen, Matayoshi, Tarnas, Yamashita Co-Chairs; Pierick. (House)
- 2025-04-15: Senate Conferees Appointed: Wakai Chair; Keohokalole, Hashimoto Co-Chairs; Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 789). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 476). (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. 1934), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-03: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Garcia, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Pierick voting no (5) 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; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Reyes Oda; 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/JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1503) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5). (House)
- 2025-03-18: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Tam, Pierick. (House)
- 2025-03-18: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1268) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC/JHA. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC/JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-14: Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC/JHA on Tuesday, 03-18-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-13: 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)
- 2025-03-12: The committee(s) on EEP recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-13-25 11:16AM. (House)
- 2025-03-12: Bill scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 03-13-25 11:16AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee(s) on EEP recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-12-25 11:15AM. (House)
- 2025-03-11: Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-12-25 11:15AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 03-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to EEP, CPC/JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 3). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) DeCorte). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) McKelvey). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 218) in amended form (SD 3). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1067) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 3). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: 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, Elefante, Hashimoto, Kanuha, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Inouye, Kidani, Kim, Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from EIG/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 673) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 2) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 2) and referred to WAM. (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)
- 2025-02-11: 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, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Reported from EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 70) as amended (SD 1), with recommendation of recommittal to EIG/CPN. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and recommitted to EIG/CPN. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: The committee(s) on EIG/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Re-Referred to EIG/CPN, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS and be recommitted. 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)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on EIG will hold a public decision making on 02-04-25 3:01PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Referred to EIG. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1361_.PDF)
- SB897_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_CD1_.HTM)
- SB897_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_HD1_.HTM)
- SB897_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_HD2_.HTM)
- SB897_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD1_.HTM)
- SB897_SD1_PROPOSED: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD1_PROPOSED_.HTM)
- SB897_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD2_.HTM)
- SB897_SD3: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD3_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- 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)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1361_.PDF)
- [SB897_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB897_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB897_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_HD2_.HTM)
- [SB897_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB897_SD1_PROPOSED (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD1_PROPOSED_.HTM)
- [SB897_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD2_.HTM)
- [SB897_SD3 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB897_SD3_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [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)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB897-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).