2025 Legislative Priorities

Emission Reduction Bills Supported by Carbon Cashback Hawaii

Carbon Cashback Hawaiʻi supports these bills, as we see them as worthwhile investments in Hawaiʻi’s efforts to transition to a carbon-free economy.

Status of other bills supported by Carbon Cashback

HB344 - Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to provide that at least twenty-five per cent of parking stalls be electric vehicle charger-ready. Passed with amendments in EIG/GVO. Passed with amendments in WAM

HB1051 - Energy-Efficiency Portfolio Standards; Extension - Passed by EIG (COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS). Passed with amendments in CPN (Commerce and Consumer Protection)

SB552 - Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a Healthy Soils Program; Received from Senate. Passed out of AGR.  Needs hearing in FIN.

HB1185 - Plant-based Building Materials Working Group; (Bamboo) Deferred by HRE (COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION). The bill will not move forward.

SB588 - Solar Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Permitting Self-Certification - Deferred by EEP (COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION). The bill will not move forward.

Carbon Cashback 2025

Carbon Cashback will not move forward in the 2025 legislative session.

We are planning for the future. We invite you to join the conversation. 

Contact us at carboncashbackhawaii@gmail.com.

  • Rep. Kapela’s bill in the House (HB 1375) - no hearing

  • Sen. Gabbard’s bill in the Senate (SB 685) - no hearing

  • Rep. Perruso’s bill in the House (HB 760) - Hearing in EEP/AGR - 1/30/25 - HB760 passed EEP and AGR with amendments.  The amendments would have the dividend paid equally to tax payers similar to HB1375. The ECD (Economic Development and Technology) Committee chose not to hear HB760.

  • Sen. Rhoads’ bill in the Senate (SB 633) - no hearing

2025 Carbon Cashback Background

Prior to opening day Carbon Cashback Hawaii asked several legislators to introduce our draft bill. Some of the legislators had slightly different ideas about how the bill should be structured, and they introduced a version of the bill that is consistent with the aims of Carbon Cashback and is intended to gain more support. Again, the basic concept of the carbon fee and dividend model remains intact in both bill versions. These are the two versions of Carbon Cashback that have been introduced:

  • Rep. Kapela’s bill in the House (HB 1375) and Sen. Gabbard’s bill in the Senate (SB 685) retain virtually the entire original Carbon Cashback bill, with equal-share climate rebates paid to all tax filers.

  • Rep. Perruso’s bill in the House (HB 760) and Sen. Rhoads’ bill in the Senate (SB 633) make the refundable tax credit vary according to income so that lower-income people receive more than higher-income people.

Carbon Cashback Hawaii supports both of these versions of Carbon Cashback and urges everyone to do so.