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Hawaii · 2025 Regular Session · Bill

SB 137: RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 137 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 10, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES. Primary sponsor: Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic), AQUINO, Stanley Chang (Democratic), Lynn DeCoite (Democratic), Troy Hashimoto (Democratic), Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Tim Richards (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 19, 2025): The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider whether approving a proposed merger or acquisition would or would not further the State's renewable energy goals. Prohibits the acquiring entity of an electric utility company from terminating or attempting to renegotiate any existing and valid power purchase agreements and requires the acquiring entity to assume and be bound by existing collective bargaining agreements and retain all covered employees. Establishes a process to ensure that when an electric utility is subject to an application for a proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and seeks approval of the application from the Public Utilities Commission, the electric utility shall demonstrate that it solicited bids from potential acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model. Requires the electric utility to submit acceptable bids from a potential acquiring entity operating under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model concurrently with an application by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and the Public Utilities Commission to review those applications concurrently. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 8

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Jarrett KeohokalolePrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate24
AQUINOPrimary sponsorNot applicable (committee)——
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9
Lynn DeCoitePrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate7
Troy HashimotoPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate5
Karl RhoadsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Tim RichardsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate4
Joy San BuenaventuraCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate2
Glenn WakaiCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate15

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
  2. Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1246) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
  3. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4).
  4. Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 03-19-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  5. The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.
  6. The committee(s) on EEP recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-12-25 11:15AM.
  7. Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 03-12-25 11:15AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  8. Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 03-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  9. Pass First Reading
  10. Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19
  11. 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.
  12. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 96) in amended form (SD 2).

Showing 12 most recent of 25 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source