Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB1016 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
OldNewDifferences
11 THE SENATE S.B. NO. 1016 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to Decarbonization. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
22
33 THE SENATE S.B. NO. 1016
44 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
55 STATE OF HAWAII
66
77 THE SENATE
88
99 S.B. NO.
1010
1111 1016
1212
1313 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
1414
1515
1616
1717 STATE OF HAWAII
1818
1919
2020
2121
2222
2323
2424
2525
2626
2727
2828
2929
3030
3131 A BILL FOR AN ACT
3232
3333
3434
3535
3636
3737 Relating to Decarbonization.
3838
3939
4040
4141
4242
4343 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
4444
4545
4646
4747 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that reducing carbon emissions is necessary to combat the ongoing climate crisis. The legislature enacted statutory goals outlined in section 225P-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as quickly as practicable, but no later than 2045; provided that the statewide target includes a greenhouse gas emissions limit, to be achieved no later than 2030, of at least fifty per cent below the level of the statewide greenhouse gas emissions in 2005. The legislature has determined that, although the State is committed to reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, current regulations and actions do not effectively promote the use of public funds for infrastructure projects in a manner that aligns with the State's goals for reducing these emissions. The legislature further finds that Hawaii can enhance environmental outcomes and expedite essential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging its purchasing power. By incorporating emissions data from the entire supply chain and product life cycle into procurement decisions, Hawaii can use this information to guide its spending to protect public health and the environment and ensure a livable climate. The legislature also finds that upstream industrial greenhouse gas emissions from the lifecycle of construction materials are an untapped area for decarbonization. Multiple states, including California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, have addressed these emissions by adopting "buy clean" initiatives. The "buy clean" programs in these states require environmental product declarations for each eligible material used in the construction of capital public projects and direct state agencies to prioritize bids that use materials with the lowest global warming potential. Californias Buy Clean California Act is established in public contract code sections 3500-3505 and sets a maximum acceptable global warming potential for construction materials, including carbon steel rebar, structural steel, glass, and mineral wool board insulation, and requires materials in contracted projects to fall below the maximum acceptable global warming potential. Section 24-92-117, Colorado Revised Statutes, establishes a buy clean program that sets a maximum acceptable global warming potential for construction materials, including asphalt, concrete and cement, glass, post-tension, reinforcing and structural steel, and wood structural elements, and requires materials in contracted projects to fall below the maximum acceptable global warming potential. Sections 184.879 through 184.884, Oregon Revised Statutes, require environmental product declarations for state transportation projects using concrete, asphalt, or steel and require the applicable department to establish a program to decrease the emissions of the eligible materials used in products over time. Washingtons "buy clean, buy fair" policy, established by chapter 39.116, Revised Code of Washington, requires an environmental product declaration, health declaration, and supplier code of conduct for contractors on eligible projects. The program also creates a database to track eligible materials' industry-standard global warming potential and forms a working group composed of materials producers to address challenges to producing lower carbon materials. The legislature notes that the Hawaii state energy office's report to the 2024 legislature, "Hawaii Pathways to Decarbonization", pursuant to Act 238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, recommended adopting a "buy clean" state policy as a key action to achieve a carbon-negative economy. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaption commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" state policy and program including an analysis of best practices and standards informed by scientific evidence. SECTION 2. The Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaption commission shall, with administrative and substantive support from the department of land and natural resources, study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization state policy and program in Hawaii, including an analysis of available scientific evidence, potential frameworks, best practices, standards, and implications. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027. SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaption commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii pursuant to section 2 of this Act. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
4848
4949 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that reducing carbon emissions is necessary to combat the ongoing climate crisis. The legislature enacted statutory goals outlined in section 225P-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as quickly as practicable, but no later than 2045; provided that the statewide target includes a greenhouse gas emissions limit, to be achieved no later than 2030, of at least fifty per cent below the level of the statewide greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.
5050
5151 The legislature has determined that, although the State is committed to reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, current regulations and actions do not effectively promote the use of public funds for infrastructure projects in a manner that aligns with the State's goals for reducing these emissions. The legislature further finds that Hawaii can enhance environmental outcomes and expedite essential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging its purchasing power. By incorporating emissions data from the entire supply chain and product life cycle into procurement decisions, Hawaii can use this information to guide its spending to protect public health and the environment and ensure a livable climate.
5252
5353 The legislature also finds that upstream industrial greenhouse gas emissions from the lifecycle of construction materials are an untapped area for decarbonization. Multiple states, including California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, have addressed these emissions by adopting "buy clean" initiatives. The "buy clean" programs in these states require environmental product declarations for each eligible material used in the construction of capital public projects and direct state agencies to prioritize bids that use materials with the lowest global warming potential.
5454
5555 Californias Buy Clean California Act is established in public contract code sections 3500-3505 and sets a maximum acceptable global warming potential for construction materials, including carbon steel rebar, structural steel, glass, and mineral wool board insulation, and requires materials in contracted projects to fall below the maximum acceptable global warming potential.
5656
5757 Section 24-92-117, Colorado Revised Statutes, establishes a buy clean program that sets a maximum acceptable global warming potential for construction materials, including asphalt, concrete and cement, glass, post-tension, reinforcing and structural steel, and wood structural elements, and requires materials in contracted projects to fall below the maximum acceptable global warming potential.
5858
5959 Sections 184.879 through 184.884, Oregon Revised Statutes, require environmental product declarations for state transportation projects using concrete, asphalt, or steel and require the applicable department to establish a program to decrease the emissions of the eligible materials used in products over time.
6060
6161 Washingtons "buy clean, buy fair" policy, established by chapter 39.116, Revised Code of Washington, requires an environmental product declaration, health declaration, and supplier code of conduct for contractors on eligible projects. The program also creates a database to track eligible materials' industry-standard global warming potential and forms a working group composed of materials producers to address challenges to producing lower carbon materials.
6262
6363 The legislature notes that the Hawaii state energy office's report to the 2024 legislature, "Hawaii Pathways to Decarbonization", pursuant to Act 238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, recommended adopting a "buy clean" state policy as a key action to achieve a carbon-negative economy.
6464
6565 Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaption commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" state policy and program including an analysis of best practices and standards informed by scientific evidence.
6666
6767 SECTION 2. The Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaption commission shall, with administrative and substantive support from the department of land and natural resources, study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization state policy and program in Hawaii, including an analysis of available scientific evidence, potential frameworks, best practices, standards, and implications. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.
6868
6969 SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaption commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
7070
7171 The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
7272
7373 SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
7474
7575
7676
7777 INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
7878
7979 INTRODUCED BY:
8080
8181 _____________________________
8282
8383
8484
8585
8686
8787 Report Title: DLNR; Climate Commission; Study; Decarbonization; Carbon; Standards; Buy Clean; Procurement; Construction Materials; Appropriation Description: Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii. Requires administrative and substantive support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates moneys. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
8888
8989
9090
9191
9292
9393 Report Title:
9494
9595 DLNR; Climate Commission; Study; Decarbonization; Carbon; Standards; Buy Clean; Procurement; Construction Materials; Appropriation
9696
9797
9898
9999 Description:
100100
101101 Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii. Requires administrative and substantive support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates moneys.
102102
103103
104104
105105
106106
107107
108108
109109 The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.