HB1689 • 2026

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Energy

Active

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

Sponsor: KILA, ILAGAN, KUSCH, OLDS
Last action: 2026-02-06
Official status: Re-referred to EEP/TRN, FIN, referral sheet 8
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how the targets will be achieved or any penalties for non-compliance.

Law to Reduce Climate Change

This bill sets goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Hawaii, with a target of seventy percent reduction by 2050 and full carbon neutrality by 2075, while excluding the Department of Transportation from these targets.

What This Bill Does

Extends the goal for Hawaii to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State by 2075.
Sets an interim target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by seventy percent by 2050.
Maintains existing targets but exempts transportation systems and services from these requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

The people and businesses in Hawaii who are expected to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Department of Transportation, which is not required to meet the new targets.

Terms To Know

Greenhouse gases: Gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
Carbon neutrality: A state where the amount of carbon released into the air is balanced by an equal amount being removed or offset.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how these targets will be achieved.
It's unclear what penalties, if any, there are for failing to meet the goals set in this law.

Bill History

2026-02-06 H
Re-referred to EEP/TRN, FIN, referral sheet 8
2026-01-26 H
Referred to EEP, TRN, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-20 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
Climate Change; Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target; Atmospheric Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Transportation
Part I: Extends the Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target to 2075 and establishes an interim target of seventy per cent for 2050. Part II: Maintains the existing Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target but exempts the Department of Transportation and transportation systems and services from the target.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1689

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1689

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to climate change
.

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

PART I

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 225P-5,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as
follows:

����
"(a)
�
Considering both atmospheric carbon and
greenhouse gas emissions as well as offsets from the local sequestration of
atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases through long-term sinks and reservoirs,
a statewide target [
is hereby
]
shall be
established to [
sequester
more
]
:

����
(1)
�
No later than
2050, sequester at least seventy per cent of emitted
atmospheric carbon and
greenhouse gases than emitted within the State [
as quickly as practicable,
but no later than 2045
];
and

����
(2)
�
No later than
2075, sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted
within the State;

provided that the statewide target [
includes
]

shall include
a greenhouse gas emissions limit, to be achieved no later
than 2030, of at least fifty per cent below the level of the statewide
greenhouse gas emissions in 2005."

PART II

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 225P-5,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�225P-5
�
Zero emissions clean
economy target.
�
(a)
�
Considering both atmospheric carbon and
greenhouse gas emissions as well as offsets from the local sequestration of
atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases through long-term sinks and reservoirs,
a statewide target [
is hereby
]
shall be
established to sequester
more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as
quickly as practicable, but no later than 2045; provided that the statewide
target [
includes
]
shall include
a greenhouse gas emissions limit,
to be achieved no later than 2030, of at least fifty per cent below the level
of the statewide greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.

����
(b)
�

The Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission shall
endeavor to achieve the goals of this section.
�

After January 1, 2020, agency plans, decisions, and strategies shall
give consideration to the impact of those plans, decisions, and strategies on
the State's ability to achieve the goals in this section, weighed appropriately
against their primary purpose.

����
(c)
�
This section shall not apply to the
department of transportation or to any transportation system or service.
"

PART III

����
SECTION 3.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Climate
Change; Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target; Atmospheric Carbon and Greenhouse
Gas Emissions; Transportation

Description:

Part
I:
�
Extends the Zero Emissions Clean
Economy Target to 2075 and establishes an interim target of seventy per cent
for 2050.
�
Part
II:
�
Maintains the existing Zero
Emissions Clean Economy Target but exempts the Department of Transportation and
transportation systems and services from the target
.

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