There were several EV-related bills introduced in the Hawaii legislature for the 2021 session. Hawaii EV is supportive of legislation designed to reduce barriers to the adoption of sustainable transportation and the acceleration of the decarbonization of our transportation sector. We will be providing our members (including members of our various EV clubs) with our position on each of these bills, along with encouragement, information, and tools so that we can offer loud support.

In the meantime, we’d like to share the list of bills with you. If you would like to track these bills so that you can receive notifications when they are up for a hearing, as well as learn out to submit testimony, visit Hawaii EV’s EV Legislation page for instructions. If you need general ideas for testimony, we list some on this google doc

Here are the bills:

Clean Ground Transportation

HB463 – Sets the goal of employing one hundred percent clean ground transportation for the public and private transportation sectors by December 31, 2030. Requires all light-duty motor vehicles procured pursuant to the Hawaii Public Procurement Code to be powered by renewable sources by January 1, 2030. Accelerates the State’s goal of becoming one hundred percent reliant on clean energy and reaching its zero-emissions clean energy target to 2030. Increases the goal for electricity use reductions achieved under the State’s energy-efficiency portfolio standards. Prohibits the sale of new motor vehicles powered solely by fossil fuels by January 1, 2030

HB552 – / SB500 – Establishes clean ground transportation goals for state agencies on a staggered basis until achieving a 100 percent light-duty motor vehicle clean fleet by 12/31/2035, and all light-duty motor vehicles in the State by 12/31/2045. Requires the procurement policy for all agencies purchasing or leasing medium- and heavy-duty motor vehicles to seek vehicles that reduce dependence on petroleum-based fuels that meet the needs of the agency, where feasible and cost-effective. Requires state and county agencies to purchase building materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project for use on the construction of new roads, where feasible and cost-effective.

HB552 is being heard by the EEP committee on Thursday, 2/11, last day for testimony is Wednesday 2/10 probably at 9 am.

State Fleet Electrification

SB164 – Requires the State to electrify its motor vehicle fleet by 1/1/2035.

HB424 / SB303 – Requires all state and county entities, when renting a vehicle on behalf of a state employee in the discharge of official government business, to rent electric or hybrid vehicles, in order of preference, provided that such a vehicle is suitable for the specific travel requirements and available when needed. Requires the State Procurement Office to promulgate rules and execute future contracts consistent with specified terms.

SB798 – Requires the State to purchase only zero-emission vehicles for its motor pool fleet beginning on 1/1/22.

SB920 – Establishes clean ground transportation goals for state agencies to achieve a one hundred percent light-duty motor vehicles zero-emission fleet by December 31, 2030.

HB424 – Requires all state and county entities, when renting a vehicle on behalf of a state employee in the discharge of official government business, to rent electric or hybrid vehicles, in order of preference, provided that such a vehicle is suitable for the specific travel requirements and available when needed. Requires the State Procurement Office to promulgate rules and execute future contracts consistent with specified terms.

EV Parking and Charging

HB803 / SB756 – Authorizes each county to adopt ordinances to enforce section 291-71, HRS, including the establishment of penalties for failure to comply with its requirements or make reasonable efforts to maintain the electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in working order. Clarifies that certain enforcement officers may enter private property to enforce EV parking space violations. Requires new EV charging systems installed to be at least Level 2 and internet-capable.

HB803 is being heard by the EEP committee on Tuesday, 2/9, last day for this round of testimony was Monday 2/8 probably at 8:30am.

SB756 is being heard by the Senate Committee on Transportation (“Dear Chair Chris Lee, Vice Chair Lorraine R. Inouye, and Committee on Transportation members”) Thursday 02-11-21 3:00PM last day for this round of testimony is Wednesday 2/10 3pm

There is a google doc with talking points that should make testimony for the next round and the corresponding senate bill really easy.

 HB802 / SB763 – Increases from 1 parking space to 4 parking spaces the number of parking spaces that a place of public accommodation with at least one hundred parking spaces is required to offer by 7/1/2026. Removes the exemption that owners of multiple places of public accommodation may offer electric vehicle parking spaces based on the aggregate number of parking spaces available in their properties. Establishes notification requirements and fines for noncompliance.

EV Charging Infrastructure Funding

SB1309 – Establishes an electric vehicle incentive program by imposing a one-time tax on the purchase of vehicles that are not zero-emission vehicles. Makes an appropriation for administrative costs of the electric vehicle charging system rebate program.

HB1142 – Establishes a surcharge on the sale of high-end gasoline-powered vehicles to fund the installation of electric vehicle charging systems. Establishes electric vehicle charging system subaccount within the public utilities commission special fund. Sunsets 6/30/2030.

HB1142 is being heard by the EEP committee on Tuesday, 2/9, last day for this round of testimony was Monday 2/8 probably at 8:30am.

Rental Car Fleet

HB1141 – Requires certain rental motor vehicle lessors to expedite the incorporation of one hundred percent zero-emission vehicles into the lessor’s fleet by 7/1/2035. Requires motor vehicle lessors to certify their compliance to the director of commerce and consumer affairs. Beginning 1/1/2022, establishes a rental motor vehicle emissions surcharge tax on certain rental motor vehicles with internal combustion engines.

SB768 – Requires lessors of rental motor vehicles to incorporate zero-emission vehicles into their rental motor vehicle fleets.

SB774 – Provides a tax credit for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure or purchase of an electric rental motor vehicle. Levies a rental motor vehicle pollution assessment on each non-zero-emissions rental motor vehicle rental, excluding vehicles rented out as car-sharing vehicles.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission Funding

HB1334 – Establishes a rental motor vehicle emissions surcharge and a climate change mitigation and adaptation commission special fund to support the activities of the climate change mitigation and adaptation commission.

EV Charger-Ready in New Multi-Unit Dwelling and Commercial

HB1140 / SB773 – Prohibits the issuance of certain new residential multi-family and commercial building application permits and new state building application permits initiated on or after January 1, 2022, unless the building’s parking stalls are electric vehicle charger ready. Allows such buildings to implement an electric vehicle energy management system.

HB1140 is being heard by the EEP committee on Tuesday, 2/9, last day for this round of testimony was Monday 2/8 probably at 8:30am.

There is a google doc with talking points that should make testimony for the next round and the corresponding senate bill really easy.

Electric-Only Mopeds by 2023

SB761 – Requires a transition to silent, clean electric mopeds by prohibiting a retailer from selling or offering for sale combustion engine-powered mopeds after 12/31/2022.

This Bill has been heard by the EEP committee.

EV License Plates

HB627 / SB60 – Authorizes the issuance of special EV license plates depicting Hōkūleʻa. Revenue is intended to support the Polynesian Voyaging Society. More details on the design can be viewed here.

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