Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program Established
Summary
Hawaii SB3103 passed the legislature on March 10, 2026, establishing the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services. The program will assist qualifying households in paying energy bills. The Public Benefits Fee Administrator of the Public Utilities Commission is required to provide information and assistance to program recipients.
What changed
SB3103 establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program as a new state-administered benefit program. The Department of Human Services will manage the program while the Public Benefits Fee Administrator must provide certain information and assistance to recipients. This represents a new social services program funded through the existing Public Benefits Fee structure.
Energy utilities and the Public Utilities Commission should prepare for coordination requirements. Qualifying households may gain access to energy bill assistance, though program eligibility thresholds and funding levels remain to be specified in implementing rules.
What to do next
- Prepare for program implementation within the Department of Human Services
- Coordinate with the Public Benefits Fee Administrator regarding recipient information requirements
- Monitor for program eligibility guidelines and application procedures
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Hawaii / SB3103 Passed SB3103 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-10
Relating To Energy Assistance.
Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist qualifying households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Benefits Fee Administrator of the Public Utilities Commission to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Bill Details
State Hawaii
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...
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Sponsors
Ronald Kouchi (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-07 H The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. 2026-04-02 H Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-03-30 H Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4). 2026-03-30 H Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1532-26), recommending referral to FIN. 2026-03-25 H The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and Excused: none. 2026-03-23 H Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 03-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-03-19 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0). 2026-03-19 H Reported from EEP/HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1224-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. 2026-03-17 H The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos. 2026-03-17 H The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. 2026-03-12 H Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP/HSH on Tuesday, 03-17-26 10:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-03-12 H Referred to EEP/HSH, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 17 2026-03-12 H Pass First Reading 2026-03-10 H Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 362) 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. 2026-03-06 S 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26. 2026-03-06 S Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2947) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). 2026-03-04 S The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. 2026-03-02 S The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. 2026-02-20 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. 2026-02-20 S Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2633) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. 2026-02-18 S The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey. 2026-02-18 S The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey. 2026-02-17 S The committee(s) on HHS/CPN deferred the measure until 02-18-26 10:06AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. 2026-02-13 S The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-17-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. 2026-02-02 S Referred to HHS/CPN, WAM. 2026-01-28 S Passed First Reading. 2026-01-28 S Introduced. 2026-01-26 S Pending Introduction.
Votes
2026-02-18 Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 4 Nay: 0 2026-02-18 Senate Health and Human Services: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 4 Nay: 0 2026-03-04 Senate Ways and Means: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 13 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-02 S Health and Human Services 2026-02-20 S Ways and Means 2026-03-12 H Energy & Environmental Protection 2026-03-19 H Consumer Protection & Commerce 2026-03-30 H Finance
Bill Text Versions
2026-02-04 Introduced 2026-02-19 Amended 2026-03-05 Amended 2026-03-18 Amended
Subjects
DHS PUC Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program Appropriation ($) Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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