HB 1984: Solar Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Building Permits; Self-Certification Process; No-Rise Certification; Regulatory Floodways
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-03-24
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-24: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for certain behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource system immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1984 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, requires electric utilities in the State to achieve a one hundred per cent renewable portfolio standard by December 31, 2045, in order to transition the State away from imported fossil fuels and toward locally available renewable energy sources.
The legislature further finds that to encourage the timely build-out of a diverse, resilient, and reliable portfolio of low-cost renewable energy generation and storage assets, the State must lower the administrative barriers that constrain deployment of residential and commercial-scale distributed energy resources.
The legislature additionally finds that the permitting review process currently adds substantial time and cost to the adoption of residential solar and energy storage projects and that self-certification by duly licensed design professionals can significantly reduce this time, cost, and administrative burden without sacrificing public health and safety.
The purpose of this Act is to reduce administrative barriers to the deployment of energy generation and storage technology systems by requiring government entities in the State that issue building permits to:
(1) By July 1, 2027, establish a self‑certification process for certain behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build the solar distributed energy resource system immediately; and
(2) Develop guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§196-A Building permits; self-certification; solar distributed energy resource systems. (a) By July 1, 2027, each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource system projects that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build the solar distributed energy resource system immediately; provided that:
(1) The project is not located on a property within a special flood hazard area as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps;
(2) The government entity receives from the project owner or agent of the project owner, before the commencement of any work:
(A) An attestation from a licensed design professional, excluding a landscape design architect, that the proposed project is not located within a flood zone that requires it to comply with federal, state, or county floodplain management development codes or laws pursuant to the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. As part of the attestation form, the licensed design professional shall provide available Flood Insurance Rate Map panel information, which shall include the:
(i) Community name and community identification number;
(ii) Panel number;
(iii) Suffix indicating the number of times the specific panel has been revised;
(iv) Panel date; and
(v) Flood zones;
(B) A request for issuance of the permit that includes a statement that the owner or agent of the owner is prepared to pay any required fees; and
(C) Proof of a valid license in the respective field for any professional installing the project and confirmation that the installation of the project will comply with all applicable codes and laws;
(3) Projects with a generating capacity greater than two hundred fifty kilowatts alternating current shall not be eligible to utilize the self-certification process established under this section; and
(4) Neither the State, nor any government entity in the State that issues building permits, shall be liable for any damages as a result of any behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource system projects that were installed pursuant to the self-certification process established under this section.
(b) The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to conduct permit reviews and inspections using commercially available software. The licensed design professionals' approvals shall be accepted without additional documentation; provided that the submitted documentation demonstrates compliance with all applicable codes and laws. The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to use offline field reports for inspections.
(c) If the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) are satisfied, the applicable government entity in the State that issues building permits shall issue the building permit number and close the permit within thirty days after the date that the application was submitted.
(d) This section shall not apply to a member-owned electric cooperative.
(e) As used in this section:
"Licensed design professional" means a professional engineer, architect, surveyor, or landscape architect licensed under chapter 464.
"Offline field report" means a report that uses photos and videos taken of the project on-site and submitted to a permitting authority to allow inspection remotely and asynchronously.
"Solar distributed energy resource system" means an assembly of solar energy-generating or energy-storing materials, or any combined assembly of solar energy-generating and energy-storing materials, and the related infrastructure necessary for its operation.
§196-B Solar distributed energy resource systems; No-Rise Certification; exemption; regulatory floodways. (a) Each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall develop Federal Emergency Management Agency-accepted guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the project owner or agent of the project owner shall:
(1) Comply with all applicable codes and laws;
(2) Properly install the solar distributed energy resource system on an already existing structure; and
(3) Not create additional obstruction within the regulatory floodway.
(c) As used in this section, "solar distributed energy resource system" has the same meaning as in section 196-A."
SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Solar Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Building Permits; Self-Certification Process; No-Rise Certification; Regulatory Floodways
Description:
By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for certain behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1984 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 2 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, requires electric utilities in the State to achieve a one hundred per cent renewable portfolio standard by December 31, 2045, in order to transition the State away from imported fossil fuels and toward locally available renewable energy sources.
The legislature further finds that to encourage the timely build-out of a diverse, resilient, and reliable portfolio of low-cost renewable energy generation and storage assets, the State must lower the administrative barriers that constrain deployment of residential and commercial-scale distributed energy resources.
The legislature additionally finds that the permitting review process currently adds substantial time and cost to the adoption of residential solar and energy storage projects and that self-certification by duly licensed design professionals can significantly reduce this time, cost, and administrative burden without sacrificing public health and safety.
The purpose of this Act is to reduce administrative barriers to the deployment of energy generation and storage technology systems by requiring government entities in the State that issue building permits to:
(1) By July 1, 2027, establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build the solar distributed energy resource system immediately; and
(2) Develop guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§196-A Building permits; self-certification; solar distributed energy resource systems. (a) By July 1, 2027, each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource system projects that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build the solar distributed energy resource system immediately; provided that:
(1) The project is not located on a property within a special flood hazard area as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps; and
(2) The government entity receives from the project owner or agent of the project owner, prior to the commencement of any work:
(A) An attestation from a licensed design professional, excluding a landscape design architect, that the proposed project is not located within a flood zone that requires it to comply with federal, state, or county floodplain management development codes or laws pursuant to the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. As part of the attestation form, the licensed design professional shall provide available Flood Insurance Rate Map panel information, which shall include the:
(i) Community name and community identification number;
(ii) Panel number;
(iii) Suffix indicating the number of times the specific panel has been revised;
(iv) Panel date; and
(v) Flood zones;
(B) A request for issuance of the permit that includes a statement that the owner or agent of the owner is prepared to pay any required fees; and
(C) Proof of a valid license in the respective field for any professional installing the project and confirmation that the installation of the project will comply with all applicable codes and laws.
(b) The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to conduct permit reviews and inspections using commercially available software. The licensed design professionals' approvals shall be accepted without additional documentation; provided that the submitted documentation demonstrates compliance with all applicable codes and laws. The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to use offline field reports for inspections.
(c) If the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) are satisfied, the applicable government entity in the State that issues building permits shall issue the building permit number and close the permit within thirty days after the date that the application was submitted.
(d) This section shall not apply to a member-owned electric cooperative.
(e) As used in this section:
"Licensed design professional" means a professional engineer, architect, surveyor, or landscape architect licensed under chapter 464.
"Offline field report" means a report that uses photos and videos taken of the project on-site and submitted to a permitting authority to allow inspection remotely and asynchronously.
"Solar distributed energy resource system" means an assembly of solar energy-generating or energy-storing materials, or any combined assembly of solar energy-generating and energy-storing materials, and the related infrastructure necessary for its operation.
§196-B Solar distributed energy resource systems; No-Rise Certification; exemption; regulatory floodways. (a) Each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall develop Federal Emergency Management Agency-accepted guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the project owner or agent of the project owner shall:
(1) Comply with all applicable codes and laws;
(2) Properly install the solar distributed energy resource system on an already existing structure; and
(3) Not create additional obstruction within the regulatory floodway.
(c) As used in this section, "solar distributed energy resource system" has the same meaning as in section 196-A."
SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Solar Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Building Permits; Self-Certification Process; No-Rise Certification; Regulatory Floodways
Description:
By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1984 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, requires electric utilities in the State to achieve a one hundred per cent renewable portfolio standard by December 31, 2045, in order to transition the State away from imported fossil fuels and toward locally available renewable energy sources.
The legislature further finds that to encourage the timely build-out of a diverse, resilient, and reliable portfolio of low-cost renewable energy generation and storage assets, the State must lower the administrative barriers that constrain deployment of residential and commercial-scale distributed energy resources.
The legislature additionally finds that the permitting review process currently adds substantial time and cost to the adoption of residential solar and energy storage projects and that self-certification by duly licensed design professionals can significantly reduce this time, cost, and administrative burden without sacrificing public health and safety.
The purpose of this Act is to reduce administrative barriers to the deployment of energy generation and storage technology systems by requiring government entities in the State that issue building permits to:
(1) By July 1, 2027, establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build the solar distributed energy resource system immediately; and
(2) Develop guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§196-A Building permits; self-certification; solar distributed energy resource systems. (a) By July 1, 2027, each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource system projects that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build the solar distributed energy resource system immediately; provided that:
(1) The project is not located on a property within a special flood hazard area as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps; and
(2) The government entity receives from the project owner or agent of the project owner, prior to the commencement of any work:
(A) An attestation from a licensed design professional that the proposed project is not located within a flood zone that requires it to comply with federal, state, or county floodplain management development codes or laws pursuant to the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. As part of the attestation form, the licensed design professional shall provide available Flood Insurance Rate Map panel information, which shall include the:
(i) Community name and community identification number;
(ii) Panel number;
(iii) Suffix indicating the number of times the specific panel has been revised;
(iv) Panel date; and
(v) Flood zones;
(B) A request for issuance of the permit that includes a statement that the owner or agent of the owner is prepared to pay any required fees; and
(C) Proof of a valid license in the respective field for any professional installing the project and confirmation that the installation of the project will comply with all applicable codes and laws.
(b) The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to conduct permit reviews and inspections using commercially available software. The licensed design professionals' approvals shall be accepted without additional documentation; provided that the submitted documentation demonstrates compliance with all applicable codes and laws. The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to utilize offline field reports for inspections.
(c) If the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) are satisfied, the applicable government entity in the State that issues building permits shall issue the building permit number and close the permit within thirty days after the date that the application was submitted.
(d) This section shall not apply to a member-owned electric cooperative.
(e) As used in this section:
"Licensed design professional" means a professional engineer, architect, surveyor, or landscape architect licensed under chapter 464.
"Offline field report" means a report that uses photos and videos taken of the project on-site and submitted to a permitting authority to allow inspection remotely and asynchronously.
"Solar distributed energy resource system" means an assembly of solar energy-generating or energy-storing materials, or any combined assembly of solar energy-generating and energy-storing materials, and the related infrastructure necessary for its operation.
§196-B Solar distributed energy resource systems; No-Rise Certification; exemption; regulatory floodways. (a) Each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall develop Federal Emergency Management Agency-accepted guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the project owner or agent of the project owner shall:
(1) Comply with all applicable codes and laws;
(2) Properly install the solar distributed energy resource system on an already existing structure; and
(3) Not create additional obstruction within the regulatory floodway.
(c) As used in this section, "solar distributed energy resource system" has the same meaning as in section 196-A."
SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Solar Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Building Permits; Self-Certification Process; No-Rise Certification; Regulatory Floodways
Description:
By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. 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.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1984 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to renewable energy.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, requires electric utilities in the State to achieve a one hundred per cent renewable portfolio standard by December 31, 2045, in order to transition the State away from imported fossil fuels and toward locally available renewable energy sources.
The legislature further finds that to encourage the timely build-out of a diverse, resilient, and reliable portfolio of low-cost renewable energy generation and storage assets, the State must lower the administrative barriers that constrain deployment of residential and commercial-scale distributed energy resources.
The legislature additionally finds that the permitting review process currently adds substantial time and cost to the adoption of residential solar and energy storage projects and that self-certification by duly licensed design professionals can significantly reduce this time, cost, and administrative burden without sacrificing public health and safety.
The purpose of this Act is to reduce administrative barriers to the deployment of energy generation and storage technology systems by requiring government entities in the State that issue building permits to:
(1) Establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource system immediately; and
(2) Develop guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§196-A Building permits; self-certification; solar distributed energy resource systems. (a) By , each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource system projects that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build the solar distributed energy resource system immediately; provided that:
(1) The project is not located on a property within a special flood hazard area as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps; and
(2) The government entity receives from the project owner or agent of the project owner, prior to the commencement of any work:
(A) An attestation from a licensed design professional that the proposed project is not located within a flood zone that requires it to comply with federal, state, or county floodplain management development codes or laws pursuant to the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. As part of the attestation form, the licensed design professional shall provide available Flood Insurance Rate Map panel information, which shall include the:
(i) Community name and community identification number;
(ii) Panel number;
(iii) Suffix indicating the number of times the specific panel has been revised;
(iv) Panel date; and
(v) Flood zones;
(B) A request for issuance of the permit that includes a statement that the owner or agent of the owner is prepared to pay any required fees; and
(C) Proof of a valid license in the respective field for any professional installing the project and confirmation that the installation of the project will comply with all applicable codes and laws.
(b) The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to conduct permit reviews and inspections using commercially available software. The licensed design professionals' approvals shall be accepted without additional documentation; provided that the submitted documentation demonstrates compliance with all applicable codes and laws. The self-certification process shall allow a project's licensed design professionals to utilize offline field reports for inspections.
(c) If the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) are satisfied, the applicable government entity in the State that issues building permits shall issue the building permit number and close the permit within thirty days after the date that the application was submitted.
(d) As used in this section:
"Licensed design professional" means a professional engineer, architect, surveyor, or landscape architect licensed under chapter 464.
"Offline field report" means a report that uses photos and videos taken of the project on-site and submitted to a permitting authority to allow inspection remotely and asynchronously.
"Solar distributed energy resource system" means an assembly of solar energy-generating or energy-storing materials, or any combined assembly of solar energy-generating and energy-storing materials, and the related infrastructure necessary for its operation.
§196-B Solar distributed energy resource systems; No-Rise Certification; exemption; regulatory floodways. (a) Each government entity in the State that issues building permits shall develop Federal Emergency Management Agency-accepted guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway as identified on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the project owner or agent of the project owner shall:
(1) Comply with all applicable codes and laws;
(2) Properly install the solar distributed energy resource system on an already existing structure; and
(3) Not create additional obstruction within the regulatory floodway.
(c) As used in this section, "solar distributed energy resource system" has the same meaning as in section 196-A."
SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Solar Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Building Permits; Self-Certification Process; No-Rise Certification; Regulatory Floodways
Description:
Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource system immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Mar 24, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/WAM. |
| Mar 24, 2026 | Reported from EIG/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3162) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/WAM. |
| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. |
| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | The committee(s) on EIG/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Referred to EIG/GVO, CPN/WAM. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 334). |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia, Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1059-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Mar 4, 2026 | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick. |
| Mar 2, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on CPC as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 713-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to CPC. |
| Feb 17, 2026 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Poepoe. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 81-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL. |
| Feb 5, 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, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 02-05-26 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Referred to EEP, WAL, CPC, referral sheet 3 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs |
Passed |
|
| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations |
Passed |
|
| Mar 10, 2026 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
|
| Mar 4, 2026 | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce |
Passed |
|
| Feb 17, 2026 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Water & Land |
Passed |
|
| Feb 5, 2026 | The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection |
Passed |
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.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| 350Hawaii.org | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Alternate Energy Inc | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Alternate Energy Inc. | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Carbon Cashback Hawaiʻi | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Climate Protectors Hawai‘i | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| EP Cube | ** Support | |
| EP Cube | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Grassroot Institute of Hawaii | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Green Power Projects LLC | ** Support | |
| Greenpath Technologies Inc. | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Energy Connection (KumuKit Solar) | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Hawaii Pacific Solar | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA) | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Holu Hou Energy | *** Support | Mar 4, 2026 |
| Holu Hou Energy | ** Support | |
| Inception Financial LLC | ** Support | |
| Inter-Island Solar Supply/The Solaray Corporation | ** Support | |
| Inter-Island Solar Supply / The Solaray Corporation | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Inter-Island Solar Supply/The Solaray Corporation | *** Support | Feb 17, 2026 |
| Kauai Climate Action Coalition | ** Support | |
| Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative | *** Against | Feb 5, 2026 |
| Malama Solar | ** Support | |
| Photonworks Engineering | ** Support | |
| Photonworks Engineering | ** Support | |
| Photonworks Engineering (LLP) | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| PV Tech | ** Support | |
| Sierra Club of Hawai‘i | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Sol-Ark | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Solartech Hawaii LLC | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Sunrun Inc. | ** Support | |
| Sunspear Energy | *** Support | Mar 17, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1059-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1984
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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1984, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) By July 1, 2027, establish a self‑certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource system projects that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately, if certain conditions are met; and
(2) Develop Federal Emergency Management Agency-accepted guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Alternate Energy Inc.; Photonworks Engineering; PV Tech; 350Hawaii.org; EP Cube; Sunspear Energy; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Hawaii Pacific Solar; Malama Solar; Sunrun Inc.; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Holu Hou Energy; Greenpath Technologies Inc.; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Public Utilities Commission.
Your Committee finds that lengthy and inconsistent permitting processes for customer-sited solar distributed energy resource systems can increase costs, delay project completion, and discourage consumer and small business investment in renewable energy. Your Committee further finds that solar permit applications constitute a significant portion of building permit activity and that existing review processes can place unnecessary administrative burdens on applicants and permitting authorities. Allowing qualified, licensed design professionals to self-certify eligible solar projects can streamline permitting, improve regulatory efficiency, and accelerate deployment of renewable energy systems without compromising public safety. This measure seeks to reduce administrative barriers and promote fair, efficient permitting practices that support consumer choice, market participation, and the State's renewable energy goals.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1984, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,
|
|
|
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair |
|
|
|
|
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 713-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1984
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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1984, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require:
(1) By July 1, 2027, government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource system projects that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately; and
(2) Government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop Federal Emergency Management Agency-accepted guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Sunrun; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Inception Financial LLC; PV Tech; Photonworks Engineering; Green Power Projects LLC; 350Hawaii.org; Inter-Island Solar Supply/The Solaray Corporation; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Alternate Energy Inc.; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Public Utilities Commission; and one individual.
Your Committee finds that the equitable development of distributed renewable energy infrastructure, such as distributed solar energy systems, is a necessary strategy to help reduce Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuels and support greater energy resiliency for the State. Your Committee further finds that this measure would significantly improve the permitting processes for solar projects by establishing a self-certification pathway and clarifying Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zone requirements.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Excluding landscape architects from the licensed design professionals who are authorized to provide an attestation that a proposed project is not located within a flood zone that requires it to comply with federal, state, or county floodplain management development codes or laws pursuant to the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program; and
(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1984, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1984, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,
|
|
|
____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
|
|
|
|
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 81-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1984
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. 1984 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Establish a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately; and
(2) Develop guidance for determining specific conditions under which a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Alternate Energy Inc.; Photonworks Engineering; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; 350Hawaii.org; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Green Power Projects LLC; and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Contractors License Board.
Your Committee finds that to encourage the timely build-out of a diverse, resilient, and reliable portfolio of renewable energy generation and storage assets, the State must address administrative barriers that slow the deployment of solar distributed energy resource systems. Your Committee further finds that allowing self‑certification processes for permit applications for these systems would accelerate their deployment without compromising public health or safety. This measure seeks to accelerate the deployment of solar distributed energy resource systems by requiring government entities that issue building permits to adopt processes for self-certification.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting a deadline of July 1, 2027, for government entities to establish the self-certification processes;
(2) Exempting member-owned electric cooperatives from the self-certification process requirement;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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. 1984, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1984, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
|
|
|
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
Testimony PDF
|
|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | HB1984_HD2_TESTIMONY_GVO-EIG_03-17-26_.PDF |
| Mar 4, 2026 | HB1984_HD2_TESTIMONY_CPC_03-04-26_.PDF |
| Feb 17, 2026 | HB1984_HD1_TESTIMONY_WAL_02-17-26_.PDF |
| Feb 5, 2026 | HB1984_TESTIMONY_EEP_02-05-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
7MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations
7MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
15MIN
House Standing Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce
2MIN
House Standing Committee on Water & Land
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Water & Land
4MIN
House Standing Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection
36SEC
House Standing Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection
Bill Author
