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HB1403 • 2026

RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY EXPLORATION.

RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY EXPLORATION.

Budget Energy
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
LOWEN (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the exact amount allocated each year, only the total over two fiscal years.

Funding Geothermal Energy Exploration in Hawaii

This bill provides money to study geothermal energy resources on the island of Hawaii.

What This Bill Does

  • Appropriates $6,000,000 from state funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 for exploring and identifying geothermal resources on Hawaii Island.
  • The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism will use this money to explore and identify geothermal resources.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
  • People living on Hawaii Island who might benefit from new energy sources

Terms To Know

Geothermal Energy
Energy produced by heat from inside the Earth.
Appropriation
Money given to a government department or agency for specific purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much of the $6,000,000 will be used each year.
  • It is unclear what exactly will happen with the information found from this exploration.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-27 H

    Referred to EEP, ECD, FIN, referral sheet 4

  3. 2025-01-23 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY EXPLORATION.
DBEDT; Geothermal Energy; Hawaii Island; Exploration; Identification; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the exploration and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaii island.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB1403

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1403

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to geothermal energy exploration
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that geothermal
resources can provide stable power and community benefits and are a viable
alternative to biofuels.
�
In 2024, the
legislature appropriated $6,000,000 for an integrated geothermal development
plan to be administered by the Hawaii technology development corporation.
�
The governor subsequently reduced the appropriation
to $3,000,000.
�
Through a partnership
between the Hawaii technology development corporation and the university of
Hawaii, work has already begun on an integrated geothermal development roadmap
with the goal of developing the first utility-scale 50-100-megawatt power
station on Hawaii island.

����
Hawaii island holds the most promise
for geothermal energy development.
�
All
geothermal testing done in the State confirms that the largest and most
reliable source of geothermal energy is located on Hawaii island.
�
Hawaii island is also the only island that
has enough agricultural and pastoral land to meet the State's need for food
self-sufficiency and security in the future.

����
The legislature recognizes that an additional
appropriation is needed to allow the Hawaii technology development corporation to
continue the geothermal energy exploration currently underway.
�
Further funding would ensure that the Hawaii
technology development corporation can oversee a development plan, administer
an extensive community outreach program, and build on previous investigations
by the department of Hawaiian home lands and other entities.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to appropriate funds to the department of business, economic development,
and tourism for the exploration and identification of geothermal resources on
Hawaii island.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $6,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027
for the exploration and identification of geothermal
resources on Hawaii island
.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of
this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT; Geothermal
Energy; Hawaii Island; Exploration; Identification; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the exploration
and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaii island.

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