Read the full stored bill text
HB787
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
787
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating
to Decarbonization
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that reducing
carbon emissions is necessary to combat the ongoing climate crisis.
�
The legislature enacted statutory goals
outlined in section 225P-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 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 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.
����
The
legislature has determined that, although the State is committed to reducing
carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, current regulations and actions do not
effectively promote the use of public funds for infrastructure projects in a
manner that aligns with the State's goals for reducing these emissions.
�
The legislature further finds that Hawaii can
enhance environmental outcomes and expedite essential reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions by leveraging its purchasing power.
�
By incorporating emissions data from the
entire supply chain and product life cycle into procurement decisions, Hawaii
can use this information to guide its spending to protect public health and the
environment and ensure a livable climate.
����
The
legislature also finds that upstream industrial greenhouse gas emissions from
the lifecycle of construction materials are an untapped area for
decarbonization.
�
Multiple states,
including California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, have addressed these
emissions by adopting "buy clean" initiatives.
�
The "buy clean" programs in these
states require environmental product declarations for each eligible material
used in the construction of capital public projects and direct state agencies
to prioritize bids that use materials with the lowest global warming potential.
����
California�s
Buy Clean California Act is established in public contract code sections
3500-3505 and sets a maximum acceptable global warming potential for
construction materials, including carbon steel rebar, structural steel, glass,
and mineral wool board insulation, and requires materials in contracted
projects to fall below the maximum acceptable global warming potential.
����
Section
24-92-117, Colorado Revised Statutes, establishes a buy clean program that sets
a maximum acceptable global warming potential for construction materials,
including asphalt, concrete and cement, glass, post-tension, reinforcing and
structural steel, and wood structural elements, and requires materials in
contracted projects to fall below the maximum acceptable global warming
potential.
����
Sections
184.879 through 184.884, Oregon Revised Statutes, require environmental product
declarations for state transportation projects using concrete, asphalt, or
steel and require the applicable department to establish a program to decrease
the emissions of the eligible materials used in products over time.
����
Washington�s
"buy clean, buy fair" policy, established by chapter 39.116, Revised
Code of Washington, requires an environmental product declaration, health
declaration, and supplier code of conduct for contractors on eligible projects.
�
The program also creates a database to
track eligible materials' industry-standard global warming potential and forms a
working group composed of materials producers to address challenges to
producing lower carbon materials.
����
The
legislature notes that the Hawaii state energy office's report to the 2024
legislature, "Hawaii Pathways to Decarbonization", pursuant to Act
238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, recommended adopting a "buy clean"
state policy as a key action to achieve a carbon-negative economy.
����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii climate change mitigation and
adaption commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy
clean" state policy and program including an analysis of best practices
and standards informed by scientific evidence.
����
SECTION
2.
�
The Hawaii climate change mitigation
and adaption commission shall, with administrative and substantive support from
the department of land and natural resources, study the feasibility of
implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization state policy and program
in Hawaii, including an analysis of available scientific evidence, potential
frameworks, best practices, standards, and implications.
�
The commission shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of
2027.
����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
���������
or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the Hawaii climate change mitigation
and adaption commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy
clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii pursuant to section 2
of this Act.
����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources
for the purposes of this Act.
����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DLNR; Climate
Commission; Study; Decarbonization; Carbon; Standards; Buy Clean; Procurement;
Construction Materials; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption
Commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean"
decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii.
�
Requires administrative and substantive support from the Department of
Land and Natural Resources.
�
Appropriates
moneys.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.