2024 Legislative Policies
Government
Various
Renewable Energy, Clean Transportation Choices, Local Food Production, Freshwater Resources
Why We Invested
We advocate for measures at county and state levels in the food, energy, transportation, and freshwater sectors
Ulupono Initiative has focused on the following priority bills:
Bill 64 (2023), Land Use Regulation Amendments
This City & County of Honolulu bill proposes amendments to the regulation of uses throughout Chapter 21, Revised Ordinance of Honolulu 1990 (“Land Use Ordinance”). Our testimony covers the agricultural use sections along with other use categories which touch AG-1 and AG-2 lands.
HB 2771, SNAP DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks Program
UPDATE: The Hawai‘i Healthy Food Incentive Program, commonly known as DA BUX, will continue through allocated funds in State Budget Bill (HB1800 CD1). This program provides matching funds to participants of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps). By securing state funding for DA BUX, Hawai‘i can leverage federal dollars to support local families and farmers, ensuring that the money remains within the local economy.
HB 2134, Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Grant Writers
UPDATE: Full-time grant writer positions will be funded through HB1800 CD1 (State Budget Bill) to help secure federal funding for local farmer and ranchers. This position will be funded through a trust fund with non-General Fund dollars, and legislators notably increased the salary to be more competitive with the market.
SB 2814, Ag Irrigation Infrastructure
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Agribusiness Development Corporation and the counties, to conduct an agricultural water infrastructure study for the State of Hawaiʻi.
Energy
SB 2518, State Policy to Support Geothermal Exploration
UPDATE: The State Budget Bill appropriated $6 million (non-recurring) to fund geothermal energy exploration through the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation. Preliminary research suggests that geothermal energy potential exists on several islands. Our state is facing competing demands for available land, and geothermal projects use the least amount of land per megawatt of renewable power produced.
HB 2614, State Policy to Streamline Permitting for Residential Photovoltaics
This bill requires government entities that issue building permits to implement an online permitting platform by Jan. 1, 2025, that verifies code compliance, and issues permits to licensed contractors for solar distributed energy resource systems. The entities are also required to develop a self-certification process for those systems that are not compatible with the online permitting platform.
Clean Transportation Choices
HB 1829, State Policy for New State Buildings to be EV Ready
This bill requires all new state building construction parking to include at least 25% of electric vehicle charger-ready stalls. It also mandates that the state offices conduct a survey to identify high-priority state facilities and establishes a goal for the state to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. A report to the Legislature will be required.
SB 3021, E-mobility
This bill renames the Electric Bicycle and Electric Moped Rebate Program the Electric Mobility Rebate Program. It expands the eligibility criteria and amends maximum rebate amounts.
Fresh Water
HB 2453 and SB 3142, Hawaiʻi Department of Health Revolving Fund Flexibility
PASSED! HB 2453 CD1 authorizes federal capitalization grant funds to be transferred between the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund (DWSRF) by the State Department of Health to improve public drinking water systems and wastewater treatment and distribution systems in the state.
HB 1900, Commission on Water Resource Management Hydrologic Data Collection
This bill appropriates funds to improve the State's water resource management and hydrologic data collection.
