RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

Budget Energy

Active

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

Sponsor: LOWEN, EVSLIN, KAHALOA, KILA, MARTEN, PERRUSO, TODD
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effectiveness of the program in increasing workplace charging options remains uncertain.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Act

This bill requires new state buildings with parking to include at least 25% of parking spots as electric vehicle charger-ready, surveys high-priority state facilities for retrofitting, and funds the installation of charging systems.

What This Bill Does

Requires that all new state building construction where parking is included must provide at least 25% of parking spaces as electric vehicle charger-ready.
Directs the Hawaii State Energy Office to survey existing state facilities with parking to identify high-priority locations for retrofitting, considering factors such as location and future demand.
Establishes a goal for the state to retrofit its facilities to be ready for electric vehicle charging.
Appropriates $300,000 from general revenues to assess and install retrofits and charging systems at identified high-priority state facilities.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies responsible for building construction and maintenance
Electric vehicle owners who use state facilities

Terms To Know

electric vehicle charger-ready: Having the necessary wiring, conduits, raceways, termination points to support a minimum of 40-ampere, 208 or 240-volt branch circuits and electrical panel capacity suitable for Level 2 charging.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many state facilities will be retrofitted or when.
It is unclear if all identified high-priority state facilities will receive funding for retrofitting.

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 new state buildings with parking to have at least 25% of parking spaces ready for electric vehicle charging by July 1, 2026.

Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is included to provide that at least twenty-five percent of parking stalls be electric vehicle charger-ready starting from July 1, 2026.
Directs the Hawaii State Energy Office to survey existing state facilities with parking and prioritize retrofitting them for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Establishes a goal for the state to make its facilities ready for electric vehicle charging.
Appropriates funds to assess costs and install retrofits and electric vehicle charging systems at high-priority state facilities.

The effective date of July 1, 3000 is likely a placeholder or error in the text provided.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment requires new state buildings with parking to have at least 25% of parking spaces ready for electric vehicle charging by July 1, 2026.

Requires that at least 25% of parking stalls in all new state building construction projects must be designed to support electric vehicle charging starting from July 1, 2026.
Directs the Hawaii State Energy Office to survey existing state facilities with parking and prioritize retrofitting them for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Establishes a goal for the state to make its facilities ready for electric vehicle charging.

The amendment does not specify an exact amount of funding appropriated, only stating that funds are necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027.
The effective date listed as July 1, 3000 appears to be a placeholder or error and is likely incorrect.

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: This amendment requires new state buildings with parking to include electric vehicle charging stations, surveys existing facilities for retrofitting, sets a goal for the State to make retrofits, and allocates funds for these improvements.

Requires new state buildings with parking spaces to have some stalls ready for electric vehicle chargers starting July 1, 2026.
Directs the Hawaii State Energy Office to survey existing state facilities with parking lots and prioritize retrofitting them for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Establishes a goal for the State to make these retrofits.
Allocates funds for detailed cost assessments and installations of electric vehicle chargers at high-priority state facilities.

The exact number of parking stalls required to be charger-ready is determined by the Department of Accounting and General Services, which isn't specified in this amendment.
The specific amount of funds appropriated for fiscal year 2026-2027 is not provided.

Bill History

2026-04-23 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817).
2026-04-23 H
House Conferees Appointed: Lowen, Perruso Co-Chairs; Alcos.
2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 5:55PM in Conference Room 325.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 5:10PM in Conference Room 325.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 4:05PM in Conference Room 325.
2025-04-24 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 875).
2025-04-24 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-25-25 11:15AM in conference room 325.
2025-04-24 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Wakai Chair; McKelvey, DeCoite Co-Chairs; Fevella.
2025-04-23 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 804).
2025-04-22 H
House Conferees Appointed: Lowen, Takenouchi Co-Chairs; Kusch, Perruso, Alcos.
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 621) in amended form (SD 2).
2025-04-08 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1833) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2025-04-04 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2025-04-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-04-25 10:46AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-03-21 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-03-21 S
Reported from EIG/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1248) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-03-18 S
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki, Fevella.
2025-03-18 S
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Chang, Fevella.
2025-03-13 S
The committee(s) on EIG/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2025-03-10 S
Re-Referred to EIG/GVO, WAM.
2025-03-04 S
Referred to GVO/EIG, WAM.
2025-02-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-02-28 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 14).
2025-02-27 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Kong, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-27 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 880), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-20-25 12:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-12 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-12 H
Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 503) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-02-06 H
The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-01-29 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 02-06-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-28 H
Re-referred to EEP, FIN, referral sheet 6
2025-01-21 H
Referred to EEP, LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
HSEO; DOT; DAGS; Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure; State Buildings; Retrofitting; Appropriation ($)
Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to provide that a number of the parking stalls, as determined by the Department of Accounting and General Services, shall be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities. Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB344

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

344

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

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 the adoption of
electric vehicles in the State continues to grow at increasing rates, with
electric vehicles accounting for fifteen per cent of all new car sales in 2024,
up 11.5 per cent from the year prior.
�

There is a need for charging infrastructure to support this growth and
ensure that there is an equitable transition to clean transportation.

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The legislature further finds that
providing electric vehicle charging options at workplaces is beneficial for
several reasons.
�
Workplace charging
provides options for people who may not be able to charge at home--typically
renters, those who live in apartments, and low- and moderate-income families--the
opportunity to participate in the savings and other benefits of owning an
electric vehicle.
�
Workplace charging
also encourages daytime charging, which benefits the grid by shifting energy
use from peak evening hours to daytime hours, when energy is cheaper and
cleaner.

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Therefore, the legislature finds
that there is a need for more workplace charging and that the State should
expand workplace charging availability in state facilities.

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The purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Require 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;

����
(2)
�
Require the Hawaii state
energy office to conduct a
survey and identify certain high-priority
state facilities that include parking to be retrofitted to include electric
vehicle charging infrastructure;

����
(3)
�
Establish a goal
of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready;
and

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(4)
�
Appropriate funds
to the department of accounting and general services to assess the costs of,
and install, retrofits and electric vehicle charging systems at high-priority
state facilities.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 107-27,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as
follows:

����
"
(d)
�
Beginning July 1, 2023, where feasible and
cost-effective, the design of all new state building construction shall:

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(1)
�
Maximize energy
and water efficiency measures;

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(2)
�
Maximize energy
generation potential; and

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(3)
�
Use building
materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project.

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Beginning July 1, 2025, the
design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included
shall provide that at least twenty-five per cent of parking stalls be electric
vehicle charger-ready.

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For the purposes of this
subsection, "electric vehicle charger-ready" means having sufficient
wiring conduits, raceways, and termination points to support a minimum of 40‑ampere,
208 or 240-volt branch circuits, and electrical panel capacity suitable to
provide Level 2 charging consistent with an alternating current Level 2
charging station, as defined in section 269-72.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
(a)
�

The Hawaii state energy office, in consultation with the department of
accounting and general services and department of transportation, shall survey
existing state facilities statewide that include parking and prioritize
retrofitting these state facilities in accordance with readily available
information, including location, expected future demand for charging, estimated
costs for retrofits of parking stalls, other make-ready work, other planned
improvements that would allow for electric vehicle charger-ready retrofit work
to be performed at the same time, and other factors that the Hawaii state
energy office deems relevant.

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(b)
�

The Hawaii state energy office shall submit a report to the legislature
no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2026.
�
The report shall include the
results of the survey conducted pursuant to subsection (a), identifying between
four to ten high-priority state facilities to be retrofitted to include
electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

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SECTION 4.
�
It shall be the goal of the State to retrofit
state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready.

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SECTION 5.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 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 to conduct detailed cost assessments
to determine the cost to install, or contract for the installation of,
retrofits and electric vehicle charging systems at the high-priority state
facilities identified pursuant to section 3 of this Act and to perform, or contract
for, these installations.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and
general services for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 6.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 7.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

HSEO;
DOT; DAGS; Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure; State Buildings;
Retrofitting; Appropriation

Description:

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.
�
Requires
the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of
Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to conduct a
survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities.
�
Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit
state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready.
�
Requires a report to the Legislature.
�
Appropriates funds.

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