SB3254 • 2026

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Budget Energy

Active

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

Sponsor: LEE, C.
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick, Shimizu voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.
DOH; Grant; HPHA; Solar-Plus-Storage Microgrids; Community Health Centers; Medically Underserved Communities; Appropriation ($) Appropriates funds to be expended by the Department of Health as a grant for the Hawaii Primary Care Association to support solar-plus-storage microgrid implementation at community health centers in medically underserved communities, and provide programmatic services, project management, contract management, reporting and fiscal stewardship responsibilities, and developing future scalable plans for the development and deployment of solar-plus-storage microgrids at nonprofit community health centers.
Effective 7/1/3000.
(HD1)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB3254 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3254 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3254 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB3254 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3254 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3254 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB3254 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB3254 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
3254 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET .

Bill History

2026-03-30 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick, Shimizu voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1438-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-03-24 H
The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Quinlan.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EEP with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-03-20 H
Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1279-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EEP.
2026-03-18 H
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hartsfield.
2026-03-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 03-18-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to HLT, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 394) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2838) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-03-03 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, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-02-25 S
The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:57AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-19 S
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2425) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on HHS added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 02-13-26 1:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-02 S
Referred to HHS, WAM.
2026-01-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-28 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.
DOH; Grant; HPHA; Solar-Plus-Storage Microgrids; Community Health Centers; Medically Underserved Communities; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to be expended by the Department of Health as a grant for the Hawaii Primary Care Association to support solar-plus-storage microgrid implementation at community health centers in medically underserved communities, and provide programmatic services, project management, contract management, reporting and fiscal stewardship responsibilities, and developing future scalable plans for the development and deployment of solar-plus-storage microgrids at nonprofit community health centers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB3254

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3254

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the state budget
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that community health centers are an essential component of
Hawaii's health care system, providing primary and preventive care regardless
of the person's ability to pay and serving medically underserved, low‑income,
rural, and geographically isolated communities.
�

Rising energy costs and increasing risks of power disruptions threaten
the ability of nonprofit community health centers to sustain operations and
deliver critical services, particularly during disasters and emergencies.

����
The legislature further finds that
solar-powered microgrids with energy storage provide a reliable and
cost-effective solution to ensure continuity of health care services during
grid outages, reduce long-term operating costs, and strengthen community resilience.
�
The Hawaii Primary Care Association has
demonstrated capacity to steward public funds and coordinate multi-site
initiatives that strengthen the sustainability of community health centers
statewide.
�
In partnership with
mission-driven clean energy partners, the association proposes to deploy
resilient energy systems at community health centers located in medically
underserved communities across multiple islands.

����
The legislature further finds that the
proposed projects leverage substantial private, philanthropic, and
incentive-based funding, but require limited state support to close a remaining
financing gap.
�
Without timely state
investment, participating health centers risk losing access to federal tax
credits and other incentives, jeopardizing project viability and the
opportunity to achieve long-term cost savings that can be reinvested into
patient care and essential services.

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Accordingly, the legislature finds that
providing a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to support
this initiative serves a valid public purpose by preserving access to essential
health services, protecting vulnerable populations, and strengthening statewide
disaster readiness and energy resilience.

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SECTION 2.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,500,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the Hawaii Primary Care Association to support the
development and deployment of solar-plus-storage microgrids at nonprofit
community health centers located in medically underserved communities across
the State, including:

����
(1)
�
Hawaii
Island Community Health Center, Hilo facilities;

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(2)
�
Hawaii
Island Community Health Center, Kau Family Health and Dental;

����
(3)
�
Hawaii
Island Community Health Center, Keaau Family Health and Dental;

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(4)
�
Hana
Health;

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(5)
�
Molokai
Ohana Health Care, Inc., Molokai Community Health Center;

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(6)
�
Waimanalo
Health Center, Hale Ola Akahi;

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(7)
�
Waimanalo
Health Center, Hale Ola Alua; and

����
(8)
�
The
Wahiawa Center for Community Health.

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The
grant shall be used to close financing gaps for eligible projects, leverage
private and incentive-based funding, and advance energy resilience, continuity
of health care services during emergencies, and long-term operating cost
reductions for participating community health centers.

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The
sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes
of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOH;
Grant; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Solar-Plus-Storage Microgrids;
Community Health Centers; Medically Underserved Communities; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds to be expended by the Department of Health as a grant for the Hawaii
Primary Care Association to support solar-plus-storage microgrid implementation
at community health centers in medically underserved communities.

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