HB1644 • 2026

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Energy

Active

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

Sponsor: MATAYOSHI, CHUN, EVSLIN, ILAGAN, KILA, KUSCH, LEE, M., MARTEN, SAYAMA, TAKAYAMA, TARNAS
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/JDC.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not explicitly mention consumer cancellation rights, only that violations constitute unfair or deceptive acts.

Rules for Selling Solar Energy Devices

This bill requires sellers of residential solar energy devices to provide clear disclosures, hold a contractor's license, and comply with consumer protection laws.

What This Bill Does

Requires purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements for residential solar energy devices to include a cover page with certain required disclosures.
Prohibits selling or installing solar energy devices without holding a valid contractor’s license or having an affiliation with a licensed contractor.
Ensures that anyone marketing, selling, or soliciting financing for solar energy devices must follow consumer protection laws.

Who It Names or Affects

People who sell residential solar energy devices
Homeowners considering buying or leasing a solar energy system

Terms To Know

Residential Solar Energy Device: A facility, equipment, or apparatus that uses solar energy for heating, cooling, or reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Contractor's License: A license required to legally install and supervise the installation of residential solar energy devices.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a seller violates these rules.
It is unclear how this will affect existing contracts before the effective date.
The bill's effectiveness depends on approval and implementation by relevant authorities.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment requires solar energy device marketers to provide consumers with a one-page standardized disclosure form, mandates compliance with consumer protection laws, and prohibits selling devices without proper licensing.

Requires solar energy device marketers to give consumers a one-page standardized disclosure form before contracts are signed.
Mandates that all marketing, sales, or solicitation activities for residential solar energy devices must comply with existing consumer protection laws.
Prohibits selling residential solar energy devices without holding an active contractor's license or having a contractual affiliation with a licensed contractor.

The amendment text does not specify the exact content of the disclosure form beyond its required elements, leaving details to be determined by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
It is unclear how existing businesses will adapt to these new requirements without additional guidance or transition periods.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: The amendment requires residential solar energy device agreements to include a detailed cover page with specific disclosures and consumer protection measures.

Requires purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements for residential solar energy devices to have a cover page that prominently displays the right to rescind or cancel within three business days without penalty.
Specifies that agreements must provide detailed information about system price, estimated annual utility bill savings, payment terms, warranty details, and more in at least ten-point type.
Prohibits unlicensed individuals from marketing, offering financing, or engaging in customer acquisition for residential solar energy devices unless they are contractually affiliated with a licensed contractor.

The amendment text is truncated, so some details about the full extent of consumer protection measures and enforcement mechanisms may be incomplete.
It's unclear how strictly financial institutions will be regulated under this new law.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: The amendment requires solar energy agreements to include specific disclosures and cancellation rights on a cover page, mandates compliance with consumer protection laws for those marketing or selling such devices, and restricts installation activities to licensed contractors.

Requires purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements for residential solar energy devices to have a cover page with clear disclosures about agreement terms and the right to rescind or cancel within three business days.
Prohibits marketing, selling, leasing, or soliciting of residential solar energy devices without compliance with consumer protection laws.
Restricts installation activities for residential solar energy devices to licensed contractors or those contractually affiliated with a licensed contractor.

The amendment text is truncated and does not provide complete details on all aspects, such as the full cancellation rights process after agreement execution.

Bill History

2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/JDC.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3313) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/JDC.
2026-03-24 S
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, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 3:03PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to EIG, CPN/JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 254).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1043-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-26 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Marten, Pierick.
2026-02-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 02-26-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-18 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 445-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-02-12 H
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.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 02-12-26 9:45AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to EEP, CPC, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-20 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.
DCCA; Consumer Protection; Residential Solar Energy Devices; Power Purchase Agreements; Agreement Cover Page; Disclosures; Contractors; Voidable
Requires purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements for residential solar energy devices to include a cover page with certain required disclosures. Requires any person or entity that markets, sells, leases, or solicits a residential solar energy device or markets, sells, or solicits power purchase agreements to comply with consumer protection laws. Prohibits any person or entity from installing, marketing, offering financing, or engaging in customer acquisition for a residential solar energy device without holding a contractor's license or having a contractual affiliation with a licensed contractor. Allows for rescission or cancellation of the agreement. Specifies that agreements in violation of the law are voidable. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1644

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1644

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to consumer protection
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that deceptive or
misleading solar sales practices undermine consumer confidence, impose hardship
on homeowners, and impede the State's clean energy goals.
�
This Act enhances enforcement of existing law
without imposing new licensing requirements on legitimate sales activities.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Require any person or entity selling a residential
solar energy device to comply with consumer protection laws;

����
(2)
�
Require a standardized one-page
disclosure form in residential solar proposals and contracts; and

����
(3)
�
Prohibit any person or entity from selling
a residential solar energy device without holding a contractor's license or having
a contractual affiliation with a licensed contractor.

����
SECTION

2
.
�
Section 481B-6,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�481B-6
�

Sale of solar energy devices; disclosure requirements[
.
]
;
sales practices.
�
(a)
�
No person shall advertise, offer to sell, or
sell a solar energy device unless the person clearly discloses separately the
following information concerning the sale price of the solar energy device to
the consumer:

����
(1)
�
The cost of the solar energy device and
accessories related to the operation of the solar energy device and for their
installation; and

����
(2)
�
The cost of items unrelated to the
operation of the solar energy device, including but not limited to, "free
gifts", offers to pay electric bills, rebates, and other incentives
designed to promote the sale of the solar device.

����
(b)
�
In addition to the requirements under
subsection (a), a person or entity marketing or contracting for a residential
solar energy device shall provide the consumer, before contract execution, a
one-page standardized disclosure form in plain language, which shall appear as
the first page of any proposal or contract and shall include:

����
(1)
�
The total system price;

����
(2)
�
The e
stimated annual energy
production and methodology;

����
(3)
�
The e
stimated annual utility
bill savings and assumptions used;

����
(4)
�
The following incentive eligibility
statement: "Eligibility for state and federal tax incentives depends on
individual circumstances and is not guaranteed by the solar company.";

����
(5)
�
Payment terms;

����
(6)
�
The e
scalation rate, if
applicable;

����
(7)
�
The o
wnership structure,
whether purchase, lease, loan or power purchase agreement;

����
(8)
�
The
name and license number
of the installing contractor;

����
(9)
�
W
arranty terms; and

���
(10)
�
Consumer cancellation rights.

The
department of commerce and consumer affairs shall design, publish, and
periodically update as needed, a template of the standardized disclosure form
described in this subsection in consultation with the solar industry.

����
(c)
�
Any person or entity that
markets, sells, or solicits a residential solar energy device, or that markets,
sells or solicits financing products, whether loans, leases or power purchase
agreements, associated with a residential solar energy device in the State
shall comply with the consumer protection requirements of this chapter and
chapter 444, and any rules adopted thereunder, relating to truthful
advertising, disclosures, contract terms, or cancellation rights.

����
(d)
�
A person or entity that does
not hold an active contractor's license under chapter 444 shall not:

����
(1)
�
Represent that the person or entity
is authorized to install or supervise the installation of a residential solar
energy device;

����
(2)
�
Enter into or offer to enter into a
contract for the installation of a residential solar energy device; or

����
(3)
�
Market, offer financing, or engage
in customer acquisition or lead generation activities for a residential solar
energy device, without being contractually affiliated with one or more
contractors holding licenses allowing them to install a residential solar
energy device.
�
The contractors' names
and license numbers shall be disclosed on all marketing materials, proposal
documents, and contract documents.

����
(e)

�
Violation of this section constitutes an
unfair or deceptive act or practice under chapter 480.

����
(f)

�
Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prohibit solar energy device marketing, sales, or financing
activities; provided that the person or entity complies with the requirements of
subsection (d).

����
(g)
�
The department of commerce and consumer
affairs may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of
this section.

����
[
(b)
]

(h)
�

As used in this section, "solar energy device" means
any new identifiable facility, equipment, apparatus, or the like [
which
]

that
makes use of solar energy for
energy storage or
heating,
cooling, or reducing the use of other types of energy dependent upon fossil
fuel for its generation."

����
SECTION
3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were
begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION
4.
�
If any provision of this Act, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can
be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end
the provisions of this Act are severable.

����
SECTION
5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION
6.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DCCA; Rooftop
Solar; Residential Solar Energy Devices; Energy Storage; Consumer Protection;
Contractors; Deceptive Practices

Description:

Requires any person or entity selling a residential solar
energy device to comply with consumer protection laws.
�
Prohibits the sale of a residential solar
energy device without a contractor's license or contractual affiliation with a
licensed contractor.
�
Requires a standardized
disclosure form to be developed by the Department of Commerce and Consumer
Affairs for use in all residential solar proposals and contracts.

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