Ulupono’s 2025 legislative agenda: advancing sustainability and resiliency in Hawai‘i
Feb 11, 2025
As the 2025 legislative session kicks into full gear, the Ulupono team is actively championing bills that aim to make meaningful impacts in local food production, renewable energy, clean transportation, and freshwater management. The following are a few priority bills:
Local Food
Two bills are set to bolster agricultural support. HB773 and SB688 aim to appropriate funds for grant specialist positions within the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to help navigate the complex landscape of agricultural grants. These positions are crucial to securing and managing grant funds for local food producers. Many federal programs are dedicated to aiding departments or agencies across the states that can apply for funding to support local initiatives. Establishing and funding positions within the HDOA for this work is extremely timely, not only to secure new funding for local farmers and ranchers, but also to preserve existing grant funding amid current uncertainties at the federal level.
Renewable Energy
Ulupono strongly supports SB1339 and HB1020, which call for a comprehensive statewide environmental assessment of geothermal energy exploration. These bills would establish a slim-hole resource characterization program under the direction of the University of Hawai‘i's Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center, potentially opening new avenues for sustainable energy.
Companion bills HB339 and SB137 propose important reforms in electric utility acquisitions, ensuring a fair review process that considers non-investor-owned utility models. As Hawai‘i continues to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, we have achieved significant milestones, such as the 100% Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and Performance-Based Regulation frameworks. However, the potential for mergers or acquisitions involving investor-owned utilities, which may arise from the Maui wildfires or other circumstances, poses a risk of backsliding or undermining these advancements to the detriment of utility customers. These bills address this risk by mandating that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) impose conditions of approval for such transactions to preserve and strengthen our progress toward sustainability. This legislation also provides critical safeguards while fostering transparency and fairness in the regulatory process.
Clean Transportation
HB670 and SB1117 expand the Electric Mobility Device Rebate Program, making electric bicycles and mopeds more accessible. We support the proposed improvements that clarify electric mobility device definitions, provide universal eligibility for all Hawai‘i residents, and increase impact of the subsidy program. We are also urging legislators to consider adding a definition for higher-speed e-motos or other “Out-of-Class Vehicles” that go more than 28 mph. We believe many of the vehicles creating safety issues in our communities are not actually e-bikes, but rather e-motos or off-road electric dirt bikes. As such, adding this definition will address this issue comprehensively.
In addition, Ulupono is advocating for consistent funding for Safe Routes to School projects. As stated in the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee December 2024 Annual Report, one in five Hawai‘i public school students is chronically absent from school for many reasons, including lack of transportation. Getting to and from school is a barrier for many students, and the Safe Routes to School Program, created through Act 244 (SLH 2023), removes barriers for students to fully participate in civic, academic and community life. In addition, these projects provide low-cost options for students to get to and from school, reducing the amount of money needed for personal vehicle use and busing.
Fresh Water
HB306 seeks to strengthen the State Water Code by updating penalty structures and expanding violation definitions. These measures demonstrate a commitment to more rigorous freshwater resource management by adding a minimum penalty and amending the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expanding the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, making each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense, and requiring the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties.
As the legislative session progresses, Ulupono remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that drive sustainable development and community improvement.