2026 Legislative Session Bills

Carbon Cashback Hawai‘i has broadened its advocacy efforts beyond carbon cashback to include other measures that reduce the cost of our energy transition and lead us toward energy independence.

Here are our 2026 legislative session priorities and bills:

Carbon Cashback (flyer)

Put a fee on fossil fuel pollution and return the revenues to taxpayers as equal-share rebates, cutting emissions and financially benefitting most households, particularly lower-income families

These bills also reestablishes the agricultural development and food security special fund

HB1617 

SB2332

This bill does not reestablish the special fund

SB2719

Balcony Solar (flyer) (Honolulu Star-Advertiser Island Voices)

These bills allow apartment dwellers and renters to install small, affordable plug-in solar electricity systems without permits or hassle

Cleaner Electricity Generation - RPS

This bill strengthens Hawai‘i’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to ensure only clean energy sources qualify as “renewables”

SB2331

2026-0349 HB SMA-1

Transition to Clean Vehicles

This bill provides clean-vehicle purchase rebates for both lower-income individuals and high-mileage drivers, or “gasoline superusers”

HB 2038

These bills provide clean-vehicle purchase rebates for low- and moderate-income individuals

SB 2691 TRS passed with amendments; on to WAM

HB 2030

This bill allocates additional funds to the electric vehicle charging system rebate program

HB 1620 HB1620, passed out of EEP, on to TRN


Streamline Rooftop Solar Permitting

This bill streamlines permitting to allow qualified professionals to approve the start of installation of home energy projects like rooftop solar

SB2327

This bill establishes a grid-ready home interconnection process that supports the rapid adoption of clean energy technologies

SB2033

Adds sales disclosure and other requirements for “solar energy device”

SB2032 - 2/3 EIG passed with amendments, to CPN

Establishes a self‑certification process for behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems

HB 1984 - 2/5 EEP passed with amendments, to WAL

Healthy Soils Program

These bills establishe and fund a program that supports farmers with tools and knowledge for soil practices that capture carbon

SB2110 - Passed out of AEN on Thursday, 1/29

HB1621 - 2/6 AGR/EEP passed with amendments, to FIN