RELATING TO CENTRALIZED ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

SB2440

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2440

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to centralized ACCESS TO resourceS
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the people
of Hawaii are grappling with the escalating impacts of the dual crises of
affordability and climate change.
�

Climate change has dynamic and multifaceted effects on the State, yet
climate action is often fragmented, siloed, and therefore ineffective.
�
With the increasing impacts of climate change
on Hawaii's working families, planning for and adapting to these anticipated
impacts will require society-wide interventions.
�
The State must prepare for and advance these
interventions by fostering greater understanding of climate-induced impacts on
vulnerable populations and by providing impacted communities with resources to
improve their resilience.

����
The
legislature further finds that the climate and affordability crises are
connected.
�
The costs of climate change
are not evenly distributed, and lower income families are more susceptible to
climate hazards and less likely to have the financial resources to rebound from
them.
�
Improving financial and economic
security can build both household and community resilience to climate
shocks.
�
Similarly, improving climate
resilience, adaptive capacity, and energy efficiency can result in significant
savings for working families.

����
The
legislature also finds that in response to the climate and affordability
crises, many programs exist to offset the costs of climate preparedness for
low- to moderate-income families and to provide financial resources to families
struggling to meet their basic needs.
�

However, communicating that information in an accessible and dynamic
framework has remained a challenge.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to require and

appropriate funds for the development,
implementation, and maintenance of a centralized resource website, modeled
after Seattle's Assistance and Discount website, to connect residents to
support and resources to address affordability, health, safety, and the impacts
of climate change in Hawaii.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�

The Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission shall
develop, implement, and maintain a centralized resource website, including an
integrated online resource portal, to connect residents to programs, services,
discounts, and assistance that address affordability, health, safety, and the
impacts of climate change.

����
(b)
�
The website shall be designed as the main
starting point to access and apply for multiple programs, services, discounts,
and assistance that address affordability, health, safety, and the impacts of
climate change.
�
In light of this goal,
the website shall consolidate and communicate information regarding programs
and resources intended to:

����
(1)
�
Offset the costs of climate preparedness,
resilience, and adaptation for low- to moderate-income households;

����
(2)
�
Improve household energy efficiency, reduce
utility costs, and promote long-term cost savings for working families;

����
(3)
�
Provide financial assistance or cost-reduction
opportunities related to housing, utilities, food security, transportation, health
care, and other basic needs; and

����
(4)
�
Support households in preparing for,
responding to, and recovering from climate-related impacts, including but not
limited to extreme weather events and natural hazards.

����
SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $600,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the development, implementation, and
maintenance of the centralized resource website pursuant to section 2 of this
Act, to be allocated as follows:

����
(1)
�
$500,000 for the development and
implementation of the website; and

����
(2)
�
$100,000 for the maintenance of the website;

provided that the appropriation authorized by this
Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation
is made; provided further that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered
as of June 30, 2028, shall lapse as of that date.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and
adaptation commission for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission
; Centralized Resource Website; Affordability;
Climate Change; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
and appropriates funds for the
Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and
Adaptation Commission
to
develop, implement, and maintain a centralized resource website to connect
residents to support and resources to address
affordability, health,
safety, and the impacts of climate change
.

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