RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
Summary
HB344 would expand electric vehicle charging readiness at Hawaii state facilities. It requires that, beginning July 1, 2026, new state building construction that includes parking be designed so a number of stalls, as determined by the Department of Accounting and General Services, are "electric vehicle charger-ready." The bill defines charger-ready infrastructure to include wiring conduits, raceways, termination points, and electrical capacity sufficient for Level 2 charging.
The bill also directs the Hawaii State Energy Office, working with the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Department of Transportation, to survey existing state facilities with parking and identify between four and ten high-priority sites for retrofits. Those sites may include state-owned parking lots serving a facility even if they are not physically attached to the building. The Energy Office must report its findings to the Legislature before the 2026 regular session and use the results to guide retrofit planning and installation of charging infrastructure.
Impact
HB344 would amend Section 107-27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to add electric vehicle charger-ready requirements to the design standards for new state buildings with parking. It would also create a statewide planning and retrofit process for existing state facilities, including a legislative reporting requirement and a policy goal that state facilities be retrofitted to be charger-ready. The bill further appropriates general funds to the Hawaii State Energy Office for cost assessments and installation of retrofits and charging systems at selected high-priority sites, affecting the responsibilities of HSEO, DAGS, and DOT and potentially increasing capital and planning obligations for state facilities.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill in the Senate, with unanimous or near-unanimous committee passage and amendments in Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, Government Operations, and Ways and Means. The bill’s findings frame it as a clean transportation and equity measure, emphasizing benefits for renters, apartment residents, and low- and moderate-income households that may not be able to charge at home. Overall, the discussion record available here suggests favorable sentiment toward expanding public-sector EV charging infrastructure, with the main changes occurring through amendments rather than opposition.
Contention
No committee transcript is provided, so specific floor or committee objections are not available. Based on the bill text, likely points of contention would include the cost of retrofitting state facilities, the scope of the survey and which sites are prioritized, and the discretion given to DAGS to determine how many stalls must be charger-ready in new construction. Another possible issue is implementation timing and whether the appropriation will be sufficient to cover assessments and installations. The bill’s broad support in committee suggests any concerns were addressed through amendments rather than sustained opposition.