HB1984 • 2026

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Energy

Active

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

Sponsor: LOWEN, EVSLIN, GRANDINETTI, KAHALOA, KAPELA, KILA, KUSCH, MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE
Last action: 2026-03-24
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about remote inspections or software use beyond self-certification processes.

Renewable Energy Permitting Simplification

This bill requires government entities to create a self-certification process for certain solar energy projects, allowing quicker installation without needing full permits.

What This Bill Does

Requires state governments to set up a system where people can install small solar power systems on their property without getting full building permits.
Allows licensed professionals to approve these solar installations using software and remote inspections instead of in-person visits.
Develops guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar project located in a regulatory floodway.

Who It Names or Affects

People who want to install solar panels on their property
Local government agencies responsible for issuing building permits

Terms To Know

self-certification process: A system where licensed professionals can approve certain projects without full government review.
regulatory floodway: An area that needs special protection from flooding to prevent water damage and protect public safety.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a project is in a high-risk flood zone.
It's unclear how this will affect the timeline for implementing these changes, as it mentions July 1, 2027 but also an effective date of July 1, 3000.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: The amendment requires government entities to establish a self-certification process for solar energy projects by July 1, 2027, allowing quicker deployment without additional administrative barriers.

Government entities must create a self-certification process for behind-the-meter solar distributed energy resource systems by July 1, 2027.
The amendment allows licensed design professionals to approve permit applications and conduct inspections using commercially available software or offline field reports.
Guidance is developed to determine when No-Rise Certification from FEMA is not required for solar projects in regulatory floodways.

The bill's effective date of July 1, 3000, seems incorrect and likely needs correction.
Details on how the self-certification process will be implemented are not fully specified in the amendment text.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Government entities must create a self-certification process for behind-the-meter solar distributed energy resource systems by July 1, 2027.
The amendment allows licensed design professionals to approve permit applications without additional documentation if the project meets certain conditions and complies with all applicable codes and laws.

The exact details of how government entities will develop guidance for No-Rise Certification exemptions are not fully specified in the provided text.
There is a discrepancy in the effective date mentioned (July 1, 3000) which seems unrealistic and likely contains an error.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment requires government entities to establish a self-certification process for certain solar projects, allowing quicker deployment of renewable energy systems.

Government entities must create a self-certification process by July 1, 2027, for behind-the-meter solar distributed energy resource systems that allows immediate building after receiving an attestation from a licensed design professional and proof of compliance with codes and laws.
The amendment exempts projects larger than 250 kilowatts from the self-certification process.
It also requires government entities to develop guidance for when No-Rise Certification is not needed for solar systems in regulatory floodways.

The text was truncated and does not provide full details on all requirements, particularly regarding exemptions or conditions under which a No-Rise Certification might be waived.
Some technical terms like 'No-Rise Certification' are used without clear definitions within the provided amendment text.

Bill History

2026-03-24 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/WAM.
2026-03-24 S
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.
2026-03-17 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, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-03-17 S
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.
2026-03-12 S
The committee(s) on EIG/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to EIG/GVO, CPN/WAM.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 334).
2026-03-10 H
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.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1059-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
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.
2026-03-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
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).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 713-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to CPC.
2026-02-17 H
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.
2026-02-11 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-10 H
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).
2026-02-09 H
Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 81-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
2026-02-05 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.
2026-02-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 02-05-26 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to EEP, WAL, CPC, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
Solar Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Building Permits; Self-Certification Process; No-Rise Certification; Regulatory Floodways
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)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1984

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:

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SECTION 1.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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(2)
�
Develop guidance for determining specific conditions under which a
Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-
R
ise 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:

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"
�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:

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(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

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(2)
�
The government
entity receives from the project owner or agent of the project owner, prior to
the commencement of any work:

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(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:

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(i)
�
Community
name and community identification number;

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(ii)
�
Panel
number;

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(iii)
�
Suffix
indicating the number of times the specific panel has been revised;

������������
(iv)
�
Panel
date; and

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(v)
�
Flood
zones;

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(d)
�
As used in this section:

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"Licensed design
professional" means a professional engineer, architect, surveyor, or
landscape architect licensed under chapter 464.

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"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.

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�196-B
�
Solar distributed energy resource systems;
No-
R
ise 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-
R
ise 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.

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(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.

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SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

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.

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