Bills

HB 1982: DHHL; Hawaiian Home Lands; Geothermal Resources; Beneficiary Consultation; Environmental Impact Statements; Appropriation

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: House
Latest Version Date: 2026-02-17

Current Status:

Failed

(2026-02-18: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Perruso, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe voting no (5) and none excused (0).)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to engage in consultation with beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands regarding activities funded and to comply with the environmental impact statements law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Version:

HB1982 HD2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1982
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that geothermal resources can provide stable power, community benefits, and a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Act 205, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, appropriated $500,000 to the department of Hawaiian home lands as start-up funding for the investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands, so that these resources could potentially be used for the generation, transmission, or production of electricity and renewable energy resources, including hydrogen.

The legislature recognizes that additional funds are needed for the department of Hawaiian home lands to continue its efforts in collecting geothermal resource data. Appropriating follow-up funding will allow the department of Hawaiian home lands to drill slim holes at certain sites, develop water wells, collect geophysical data, and hire consultants to help navigate the intricacies of geothermal development.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate follow-up funding to the department of Hawaiian home lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.

SECTION 2. 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 2026-2027 for:

(1) The drilling of slim holes, development of water wells, and continuation of geophysical data collection, investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands; and

(2) The department of Hawaiian home lands to hire consultants to assist with geothermal development activities;

provided that the department of Hawaiian home lands shall engage in consultation with beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands regarding activities funded by this Act and shall comply with chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian home lands for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DHHL; Hawaiian Home Lands; Geothermal Resources; Beneficiary Consultation; Environmental Impact Statements; Appropriation

Description:

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HB1982 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1982
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that geothermal resources can provide stable power, community benefits, and a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Act 205, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, appropriated $500,000 to the department of Hawaiian home lands as start-up funding for the exploration of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands, so that these resources could potentially be used for the generation, transmission, or production of electricity and renewable energy resources, including hydrogen.

SECTION 2. 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 2026-2027 for:

(2) The department of Hawaiian home lands to hire consultants to assist with geothermal development activities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian home lands for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DHHL; Hawaiian Home Lands; Geothermal Resources; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HB1982

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1982
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the department of hawaiian home lands.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that geothermal resources can provide stable power, community benefits, and a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Act 205, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, appropriated $500,000 to the department of Hawaiian home lands as start-up funding for the exploration of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands, so that these resources could potentially be used for the generation, transmission, or production of electricity and renewable energy resources, including hydrogen.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for:

(2) The department of Hawaiian home lands to hire consultants to assist with geothermal development activities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian home lands for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHHL; Hawaiian Home Lands; Geothermal Resources; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

Date	Status
Feb 18, 2026	Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Perruso, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe voting no (5) and none excused (0).
Feb 18, 2026	Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 474-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
Feb 12, 2026	The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Hashem, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Poepoe, Cochran, Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Kahaloa.
Feb 10, 2026	Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-12-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Feb 5, 2026	Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Poepoe, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Woodson excused (1).
Feb 5, 2026	Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 30-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
Feb 3, 2026	The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Matsumoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
Jan 30, 2026	Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 02-03-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Jan 28, 2026	Referred to EEP, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 3
Jan 26, 2026	Introduced and Pass First Reading.
Jan 23, 2026	Pending introduction.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Feb 12, 2026	The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs	5 3 2 Passed
Feb 3, 2026	The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	House Standing Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection	7 0 0 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands	** Support
DHHL Wait List	*** Against	Feb 12, 2026
Geothermal Neighbors	*** Against	Feb 12, 2026
Hawaiian Homes Commission	*** Support	Feb 12, 2026
Ho`omana Pono, LLC	*** Support	Feb 12, 2026
Hoʻomana Pono, LLC	** Support
Keaukaha Action Network	*** Against	Feb 12, 2026
Kia'i Iwi Alaka'i	*** Against	Feb 12, 2026
Kiaʻi Iwi Alakaʻi	** Against
Kingdom of The Hawaiian Islands	*** Support	Feb 12, 2026
Kūpuna for the Moʻopuna	** Against
Na Wai Hoʻola Nui Laʻau Lapaʻau Foundation	** Against
Na Wai Ho’ola Nui La’au Lapa’au Foundation	*** Against	Feb 12, 2026
Truth for the People	** Against
We Are Puna	*** Against	Feb 4, 2026

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Chelsea Dugan HSCR.dotm clerk2 2 12 2026-02-13T18:10:00Z 2026-02-18T05:24:00Z 2026-02-18T05:24:00Z 2 391 2199 HSCR template, revision no. 00005 24136 89 25 2589 16.00 00005 Print 88 0 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 474-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1982

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hoʻomana Pono, LLC; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Na Wai Hoʻola Nui Laʻau Lapaʻau Foundation; Truth for the People; Kūpuna for the Moʻopuna; Kiaʻi Iwi Alakaʻi; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides follow-up funding to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to continue geothermal resource exploration activities. Your Committee further finds that continued investment in geothermal exploration on Hawaiian home lands will allow the Department to make informed decisions regarding the potential development of renewable energy resources in a manner that supports long-term energy sustainability and advances the interests of beneficiaries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to engage in consultation with beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands regarding activities funded by this measure and to comply with the environmental impact statements law; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $5,000,000 for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair

Aaron Supple HSCR.dotm clerk1 2 16 2004-10-13T00:57:00Z 2026-02-05T03:31:00Z 2026-02-05T03:31:00Z 2 364 2029 HSCR template, revision no. 00005 24004 85 25 2393 16.00 00005 Print 0 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 30-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1982

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1982 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Truth for the People and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that geothermal resources can provide stable power, community benefits, and an alternative to fossil fuels. Your Committee further finds that start-up funding was appropriated to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for the exploration of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands and that additional funding is needed to continue these efforts. This measure ensures that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has the resources and expertise needed to continue geothermal resource exploration and development activities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1982, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Feb 12, 2026	HB1982_HD1_TESTIMONY_JHA_02-12-26_.PDF
Feb 4, 2026	HB1982_TESTIMONY_EEP_02-03-26_.PDF

Discussed in Hearing

35MIN

House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

3MIN

House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

View Older Hearings

Authors shown for version:
HB1982_HD2 (2/17/2026)