Video & Transcript Research : 'LNG'
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AK
Alaska 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Jun 12th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Alaska House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- What it does is it puts the gas treatment plant and the LNG facility under the municipal property tax
- Speaker, is House Bill 381 finally moves the Alaska LNG project forward.
- House Bill 381 finally moves the Alaska LNG project forward.
- That's no LNG export plant.
- That's no LNG export plant.
AK
Alaska 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Jun 20th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Alaska House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- version repeals the old in-state natural gas pipeline fund and replaces it with a single new Alaska LNG
- First, when the LNG plant starts running, it's at 10.6 cents per thousand cubic feet of gas.
- The House version gave a 93 to 7 split favoring municipalities hosting the treatment plant and the LNG
- The Senate version uses different, more granular percentages that change once the LNG plant comes online
- effective cost of capital for the pass-through structures commonly used by pipeline, treatment, and LNG
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Currently, LNG.
- As the global demand for LNG continues to expand rapidly, Reasonable and defined permitting timelines
- LNG exports.
- Cheniere owns and operates one of the two operational LNG export terminals in Texas, just outside of
- Modifying and expanding LNG export terminals.
Keywords:
rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ
AK
Transcript Highlights:
- version repeals the old in-state natural gas pipeline fund and replaces it with a single new Alaska LNG
- First, when the LNG plant starts running, it's at 10.6 cents per thousand cubic feet of gas.
- The House version gave a 93 to 7 split favoring municipalities hosting the treatment plant and the LNG
- The Senate version uses a different, more granular percentage split that changes once the LNG plant comes
- effective cost of capital for the pass-through structures commonly used by pipeline, treatment, and LNG
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the journal and the prayer for the record. The clerk read gubernatorial messages calling the legislature into a third special session and describing the call around House Bill 381, a major natural gas project bill addressing property taxes, municipal taxes, AGDC, reporting requirements, contract approval, an alternative volumetric tax, municipal impact grants, and related provisions. Messages from the Senate reported passage of a Senate-amended version of HB 381 and transmission of Senate Concurrent Resolution 203 to suspend certain rules related to the bill.
The House introduced HCR 301 and HCR 302. HCR 301, which suspends rules on carryover of bills into a special session, passed 40-0. The House then took up the Senate amendments to HB 381. The Majority Leader outlined the Senate changes, including new school funding provisions, reorganization and oversight of AGDC funds, a public project dashboard, stricter bond approval requirements, a heating fuel assistance fund, changes to the alternative volumetric tax structure and distribution of revenues, a permanent rather than sunsetted tax break, new deadlines tied to final investment decision and construction, and a new graduated income tax on certain pass-through entities. He urged members to vote no on concurrence, and the House rejected concurrence 12-28.
Because the House did not concur, the Speaker appointed a conference committee on HB 381 consisting of Representative Schrage, the Majority Leader, Representative Edgmon, and Representative Ruffridge. HCR 302, authorizing the House and Senate to recess for more than three days, passed 40-0 after members stated the recess was intended to allow conference negotiations to continue and that the body would return on a time certain. The House also received two governor-request bills, HB 3001 and HB 3002, both referred to the Finance Committee. The House then excused several members for specified absences and adjourned until July 1 at 10:30 a.m.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP/WAL Joint Public Hearing - Tue Mar 18, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- LNG would be a step backwards for a state that's oil dependent.
- Please support this LNG for Hawaii.
- Um please support this LNG for much.
- We need to kill any chance of additional LNG coming into this state.
- <02:18:09.439>
that So there are alternatives to LNG that So there are alternatives to LNG
Summary:
The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted.
The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits.
Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences Sep 22nd, 2025
Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences
Transcript Highlights:
- Liquidified natural gas, or LNG, is one of the leading alternative marine fuels globally and currently
- The benefits and opportunities of LNG compared to traditional bunker fuels are substantial and wide-ranging
- Tote is proud to be a leader in the U.S. maritime industry's adoption of LNG as a cleaner-burning fuel
- Over the past decade, we've made sustained investments in LNG, including the conversions of our Orca-class
- Tote's conversion of the Orca-class vessels to LNG has resulted in approximately a 25 to 30 percent reduction
Summary:
The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on September 22, 2025, confirmed a quorum, and unanimously approved the August 6, 2025 meeting minutes. The main business of the meeting was public testimony on the 2025 tax preference reviews, with Commissioner Forsyth recusing himself for the first witness, Joey Halverson of Tote Maritime Alaska, who testified in support of the tax preference for natural gas as a transportation fuel. He argued that LNG has enabled major emissions reductions, supported infrastructure at the Port of Tacoma, and should continue to receive tax preferences to encourage further clean maritime fuel adoption.
The second witness, Michelle Preston of Habitat for Humanity of Washington State, testified in support of the tax preference for low-income homeownership developers. She said the preference helps Habitat affiliates advance homeownership and sustain operations, but noted that reporting has been inconsistent across independent affiliates and that JLARC’s metrics may not fully capture the program’s benefits. Commissioners asked questions about affiliate accounting, the distinction between benefits to nonprofits versus homebuyers, and whether the reporting/renewal period should be shorter than the current seven years; Preston said the preference benefits the nonprofit developer, not the homebuyer, and suggested shorter renewal periods might improve compliance and awareness.
JLARC staff then outlined the process for the commission’s upcoming comments on the 2025 tax preference reviews. Commissioners will receive a web-based comment form, with responses due September 30, the chair will compile consolidated comments, and those materials will be distributed for the October 21, 2025 meeting. The chair noted that only voting members will complete the comment forms, though individual members may also submit minority reports. The meeting ended with a reminder that written testimony could still be submitted to JLARC and that the next commission meeting is scheduled for October 21, 2025.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/20/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The time and cost of the Public Utilities Commission process deters utilities from considering an LNG
- House File 2248 would update the amount of LNG storage that can be constructed without triggering the
- and LNG codes and standards.
- I can tell you in all the years I've worked at LNG, a 100,000-gallon LNG storage tank is not a large
- It's designed to contain the cold LNG and keep it cold as we store it.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Thu Feb 12, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 14
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So it's no longer a ban on LNG.
- This bill will protect ratepayers by making sure that should LNG import or costs for infrastructure be
- So it's no longer a<01:03:02.319>
ban <01:03:03.200>on <01:03:03.520>LNG. - Uh it was amended to a ban on LNG.
- They note that taking the same amount of money that we would be expending on LNG infrastructure, or I
Keywords:
gambling, prediction markets, Hawaii gambling laws, financial contracts, ethical concerns, electric bicycles, micro-mobility devices, safety regulations, traffic laws, insurance exemption, high-speed electric devices, land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, building code, permitting process, training, state council
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 12, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- And LNG is one of the It's a perfect question because we have what we call our big six infrastructure
- And LNG is one of those on there.
- Yeah, so we're in active talks right now with both providers and on the LNG side, as well as the spaceport
- want to make sure we're doing, you know, the right thing in terms of environmental mitigation from LNG
- perspective, because we don't, you know, the aerospace customers typically aren't going to need a large LNG
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and heard first from Space Florida President and CEO Robert Long, who described the agency’s role as the state’s aerospace finance and business development authority and spaceport authority. He reported a pipeline of about 187 projects, nearly $7 billion in potential private investment, and roughly 8,000 potential jobs, with 161 projects in the fiscal-year pipeline, up about 30% from the prior year. Long said Space Florida is focusing on workforce development through its Space Florida Academy with 23 school districts, and on target markets including advanced air mobility/eVTOL, flight simulation, and satellite manufacturing. Members asked about infrastructure, federal-state coordination, LNG planning, environmental mitigation, workforce, and how the Legislature’s recent $5 million recurring increase is being used; Long said the funds are mainly supporting staffing, contracted services, and IT improvements to handle growth and move projects through faster.
The panel then heard from Blue Origin, Leonardo (through LSN Partners), and Lone Star Data Holdings. Blue Origin said its Florida manufacturing and launch operations have grown far beyond initial commitments, with more than $3 billion invested and over 3,000 employees in the state, and emphasized the need for roads, water, wastewater, and other launch-site infrastructure as launch cadence increases. Leonardo highlighted its TH-73A Navy helicopter program in Milton and a new 70,000-square-foot maintenance facility at Whiting Aviation Park, crediting state, local, and federal partners and noting future potential for its AW-609 tiltrotor aircraft. Lone Star Data Holdings described its satellite-based data storage and disaster-recovery business, said Florida was its first customer, and urged the state to use Florida as a pilot project for protecting data and expanding space-based data infrastructure.
Members repeatedly focused on what the state should do next, and the panel’s main answer was continued investment in infrastructure and long-term planning. Specific needs mentioned included road widening, traffic signals, fire suppression, water pressure, wastewater capacity, power, transportation links, environmental mitigation, and LNG-related planning at the spaceport. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the meeting, and the session ended after member questions and comments with a motion to rise and adjourn.
TX
Keywords:
SB 868, rural volunteer fire department assistance program, volunteer fire department assistance fund, Texas Government Code, wildfire, wildland fire, high-risk wildfire area, fire suppression, rural fire departments, volunteer firefighters, emergency response, public safety, grant allocation, appropriations, disaster preparedness, tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard several bills focused on tax administration, transportation, emergency services, historic preservation, forensic training, pension funding, and the state’s rainy day fund. Senate Bill 1337, by Senator Creighton, would require the comptroller to assess penalty and interest only on the net tax due and allow sales and use tax overpayments to offset underpayments more automatically; it was left pending while the author, comptroller staff, and a private witness continued working on the language and fiscal note. Senate Bill 1371, by Senator Hinojosa, would address Corpus Christi transit authority operations, including emergency refueling coordination, fare-setting procedures, and board term limits; it received supportive testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 1377, by Senator Perry, would create a grant program for rural counties to buy ambulances, with a committee substitute expanding eligible uses in some cases to equipment and setting a sunset date; numerous EMS officials, county representatives, and association witnesses testified in support, emphasizing rising ambulance costs, staffing shortages, and the need for rural emergency coverage, and the bill was left pending after testimony. Senate Bill 868, by Senator Sparks, would direct at least 10% of volunteer fire department assistance funding to high wildfire-risk areas; Texas A&M Forest Service explained the map and methodology, and the committee substitute was adopted.
The committee also heard Senate Bill 1426, which would place the First Capitol State Historic Site in West Columbia under Texas Historical Commission stewardship, and Senate Bill 1620, which would create a Texas Forensic Analyst Apprenticeship Pilot Program through the Office of Court Administration to address forensic scientist shortages; both had no opposition in testimony and their committee substitutes were adopted. Senate Bill 2065 would change the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System funding structure to require an actuarially determined state contribution and address the system’s unfunded liability over 30 years; Pasadena fire department representatives testified that the pension is an important volunteer retention tool, and the bill was left pending after testimony. Senate Joint Resolution 4 would raise the Economic Stabilization Fund cap from 10% to 15% of biennial revenue deposits, with a committee substitute correcting the effective date to September 1, 2027; the committee discussed the fund’s current balance and purpose before adopting the substitute.
After quorum was established, the committee voted out the measures. Senate Bill 1868, Senate Bill 1371, Senate Bill 264, Senate Joint Resolution 4, Senate Bill 1426, Senate Bill 1620, and Senate Bill 2065 were all reported favorably to the full Senate, with some bills also certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 868 was adopted and the bill was reported favorably as well. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Katharine MacGregor, of Florida, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior, and James Danly, of Tennessee, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy. Apr 2nd, 2025 at 09:00 am
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Danley, Louisiana is currently home to more than 60% of the current LNG exports, and a large number of
- LNG projects are on the pipeline, excuse the pun. and awaiting permitting approval.
- what President Trump, Secretary Wright, and the Department of Energy have done to help unleash this LNG
- How can DOE, or what can DOE do to further eliminate barriers through LNG exporting, including through
- It should probably come as no surprise that I care a lot about LNG exports.
Keywords:
nuclear energy, permitting process, energy production, public lands, national parks, uranium imports, legislative bills, infrastructure development
Summary:
The committee meeting was dominated by discussions on a variety of legislative bills including major topics such as nuclear energy advancement, the effects of regulatory hurdles on energy production, and proposals to improve national park staffing and maintenance. Members expressed concerns over the federal government's handling of uranium imports and the necessity for maintaining a robust domestic nuclear supply chain. Efforts to streamline permitting processes to facilitate more efficient energy project development were also a focal point, alongside public testimony from stakeholders in the energy and environmental sectors. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure development to meet rising energy demands while addressing climate change impacts.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for the opportunity to lay out House Bill 2890, the LNG, liquefied natural gas.
- Moreover, in 2023, exporting LNG in the United States supported 222,000 to 450 jobs nationwide, with
- Now, keep in mind the United States is number one in the world in exporting LNG.
- The need for Texas and other Gulf states to keep a united front against another potential pause on LNG
- On the LNG industry because there are already federal requirements there.
Keywords:
HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- horizon and we're looking at the back half of '26, all of '27, peak construction for Woodside, Louisiana LNG
- We just announced Commonwealth LNG. I believe it's going to be close to 20,000 construction jobs.
- We're looking at the back half of '26, all of '27, peak construction for Woodside, Louisiana LNG, Venture
- We just announced Commonwealth LNG. I believe it's going to be close to 20,000 construction jobs.
- described here with this pipeline and everything else that we're doing as it relates to not just all the LNG
Keywords:
survivor benefits, law enforcement, reserve officer, auxiliary officer, public safety, firefighters, medical expenses, dental expenses, disability benefits, Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, health insurance, provider agreements, contracting actions, participating facilities, network status, survivors benefits
AK
Alaska 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Jul 16th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Alaska House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a sweeping tax restructuring bill that reaches far beyond the Alaska LNG pipeline.
- opportunity to change the property tax structure that would work to make it viable so that the Alaska LNG
- some that are saying that the gas line forecloses our need for importing liquefied natural gas, or LNG
- what our other opportunities are for reducing both the quantity and time we will need to be importing LNG
- displace our utilization of natural gas in the short term so that we reduce the time and the quantity of LNG
Summary:
The House met with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the governor and Senate, including notice that the governor vetoed CSHB 16 and allowed HB 14 to become law without signature. The chamber then took up the conference committee report on HB 381, a major Alaska LNG-related bill that revises the project’s tax and regulatory structure. The conference report was explained as a compromise package that, among other things, changes required local contribution language, expands disclosure and notice requirements, adjusts foreign ownership reporting, extends the Phase 1 construction deadline, adds a $10 million workforce development/community impact fund, modifies project labor agreement provisions, and exempts the Alaska LNG project from the new pass-through entity tax while still requiring an informational tax return in 2027. The Speaker also announced the governor had issued a proclamation calling the legislature back into session on July 27, 2026, and said sine die would be moved after debate.
Debate on HB 381 was sharply divided. Supporters argued the bill is necessary enabling legislation to improve the project’s financial viability, protect Alaska’s interests, and move the North Slope gas line toward final investment decision, while also adding transparency, foreign ownership safeguards, and labor and workforce provisions. Several members said the conference committee process was collaborative and that the bill reflects hard-fought compromise with the developer, AGDC, labor, and the administration. Opponents focused on the addition of the pass-through entity/S-corp income tax and related reporting requirements, arguing it is a separate tax policy issue that should have been considered in its own bill, creates uncertainty and litigation risk, could harm existing oil and gas and Cook Inlet production, and may discourage investment. Multiple members also criticized the process as rushed and insufficiently transparent, especially the limited opportunity for the minority and the absence of Department of Revenue testimony during conference.
No final vote on the conference committee report is shown in the transcript excerpt. The debate continued with members alternating between support for the gas line project itself and opposition to the tax provisions and process used to advance HB 381.
TX
Keywords:
SB 868, rural volunteer fire department assistance program, volunteer fire department assistance fund, Texas Government Code, wildfire, wildland fire, high-risk wildfire area, fire suppression, rural fire departments, volunteer firefighters, emergency response, public safety, grant allocation, appropriations, disaster preparedness, tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Currently, LNG companies undergo a federal permitting process for exports, additional permitting operation
- As the global demand for LNG continues to expand rapidly...
- As the global demand for LNG continues to expand rapidly, reasonable and defined permitting timelines
- The committee substitute requires TCEQ to establish an expedited review process for LNG export terminal
- The committee substitute requires TCEQ to establish an expedited review process for LNG export terminal
Summary:
The Senate opened with an invocation, messages from the House, and several recognitions, including county day delegations from Fayette, LaSalle, Jim Hogg, Austin, and others, as well as a recognition of Rob Keppel for his career with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. The chamber also adopted several resolutions, including SR 429 designating October 2025 as RET Syndrome Awareness Month and SR 432 honoring Rob Keppel. A doctor-of-the-day introduction and a public announcement about free skin checks were also made.
The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1152, creating the offense of continuous manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, passed after suspension of the rules. SB 1868, regulating kratom and related substances, was amended to prohibit smokeable kratom products and kratom pills and to clarify THC variants such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, then passed. SB 1349, creating offenses for transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law, drew debate over a failed amendment that would have added election misinformation and foreign meddling; the bill ultimately passed unanimously. SB 2037, expediting review of LNG environmental permits, passed after amendments clarifying fees and deadlines, with opposition focused on its energy-policy implications. SB 1164, addressing emergency detention and court-ordered inpatient mental health treatment, passed after a drafting-error correction and discussion of the bill’s basis in recommendations from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health.
The Senate also advanced SB 2743 on prosecution of certain election offenses, which would allow a court process to disqualify a local prosecutor who repeatedly refuses to prosecute election cases and appoint the Attorney General; it passed to engrossment amid questions about evidence and local discretion. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit members, supporters, volunteers, and donors from disclosure by public agencies, passed unanimously. SB 2349, exempting certain short-term leases and temporary tenancies from floodplain notice requirements, passed unanimously. SB 2788, adding PSAT and pre-ACT scores for Texas Success Initiative exemptions and clarifying dual-credit eligibility, passed unanimously after amendment. SB 843, creating a TEA database of school district bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects and adding charter schools, passed after amendments on funding and scope.
Finally, SB 1832, allowing parents to transfer a student who was victimized by a public school employee to another campus, passed to engrossment after extended debate over whether the bill should also cover private schools and how it would interact with school choice and ESA policy. SB 39, revising the admission rule in commercial motor vehicle collision cases, was laid out and debated over its effect on negligent entrustment and related evidence, with the author emphasizing that the bill preserves the bifurcated trial structure and does not alter other admissibility rules.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Brian Burch, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Holy See, Brandon Judd, of Idaho, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Chile, and Nicole McGraw, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, all of t Apr 8th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The Kirk LNG terminal expansion offers a chance to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas, while boosting
- Not only will it advance more energy from U.S. exporters to the region, but since the Kirk LNG terminal
- So, right now, in Croatia, the Kirk LNG terminal is doubling its capacity, which is going to give United
Keywords:
legislative process, public involvement, community engagement, transparency, introductions
Summary:
The meeting was characterized by a series of introductions and personal anecdotes shared by the committee members, with a focus on the importance of community engagement and transparency in legislative processes. Members expressed their commitment to open hearings and the necessity for public involvement in discussions impacting constituents. Several members remarked on how personal experiences shape their legislative priorities, thus reinforcing the human element of governance. However, there was a noticeable absence of discussion regarding specific bills, indicating that the session may have been more exploratory or introductory in nature.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs (02/07/2025)
State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- for LPG for other fuels of Fleet for LNG for LPG for other fuels of that<01:19:20.480>
nature - shipment of LNG whereas what our<01:20:10.280>
members <01:20:10.679>are <01:20:10.880> - And when states are simply requesting what are essentially one-off deliveries of LNG, that makes the
- -flag fleet, would happily make those investments in the LNG market.
- Do you guys have any figures for LNG? I did not have that available to me.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Thu Feb 5, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- It's much safer than LNG.
- They just had a huge explosion in Louisiana from LNG, and uh so this is a much safer way to go to bring
- It's much safer than LNG.
- It's much safer than LNG.
- It's much safer than LNG.
Bills:
HB2245, HB1618, HB1985, HB2079, HB1921, HB2232, HB1567, HB1984, HB2608, HB2435, HB1623, HB1774
Keywords:
wastewater systems, denitrification, environment, pollution, coral reefs, nearshore waters, public health, shoreline regulations, cesspool conversion, cesspool replacement, wastewater, sewer connection, sewerage systems, septic system, pollution control, water pollution control revolving fund, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HGIA, low-interest loans, forgivable loans
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several bills related to cesspools, wastewater, and clean water protections. On HB 2245, which would require additional denitrification capacity in wastewater systems near shorelines, the Department of Health offered comments, DLNR supported the bill, and multiple environmental and ocean groups testified in strong support, emphasizing nitrogen pollution from cesspools, reef damage, and the need to prioritize shoreline systems. Testifiers said the bill should move forward, with technical issues such as GIS mapping to be worked out later. No member questions or votes were taken on this measure.
On HB 1985, concerning the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and accessible conversion loans for cesspool homeowners, HGI supported the bill and suggested making the program a revolving loan fund; DLNR and the Public Utilities Commission also supported it, while the Department of Health supported the concept. Committee discussion focused on program design, possible forgivable loans for low-income homeowners, and whether the program should be administered through existing infrastructure rather than a new procurement process. The committee then moved to HB 1985’s companion discussion on cesspool conversion outreach and deadline extensions, where DLNR and DOH supported outreach but DLNR and ocean advocates expressed reservations about extending deadlines, especially for financial hardship, saying that issue would need careful work.
The committee also heard testimony on HB 2079, which would reestablish the accessible upgrades inversion or connection income tax credit. The Department of Taxation raised administrative and fraud concerns about refundable credits, explaining that nonrefundable credits reduce tax debt while refundable credits can function like cash payments and require more oversight. DOH, DLNR, OPSD, counties, Hawaii Realtors, and environmental groups supported the bill, with one ocean coalition witness saying tax credits could help homeowners but grants would be preferable. Members asked about the difference between refundable credits and grants and about whether the credit would cover sewer connections versus individual wastewater systems. The committee then heard brief testimony on HB 1921, allowing certain priority-three cesspools to add a bedroom, with support from Hawaii Realtors and some other groups and no opposition discussion. HB 2232, preserving state water-quality protections at least as strong as the federal Clean Water Act, drew support from DOH and ocean advocates, with no questions. The committee also began hearing energy-related bills, including HB 1567 on energy equity and HB 1984 on self-certification for distributed energy resources, with a mix of support and some opposition or requested amendments, but no votes were taken in the portion provided.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Tue Mar 24, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- We don't have a waiver project before us, um, regarding a potential LNG project.
- I mean, it's a foregone conclusion that the one company proposing LNG, everybody already knows who it
- equitably, and aligned with— >> But if there was never any competitive bidding process for some kind of LNG
- conclusion that the the one<00:23:22.320>
company <00:23:23.039>proposing <00:23:23.520>LNG - ,<00:23:24.320>
everybody one company proposing LNG, everybody one company proposing LNG,
Keywords:
conservation, endangered species, wildlife preservation, native birds, biodiversity, sanctuary, nonprofit, DLNR, agricultural district, land use, chapter 195D, chapter 205, chapter 42F, state funding, public purpose, habitat restoration, predator-free sanctuary, ecosystem restoration, Zealandia, wildlife refuge
Summary:
The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard a long series of resolutions focused largely on waste reduction, energy planning, and environmental protection. Early measures included HR 12/HCR 10 on a permanent landfill host benefits program for Honolulu, HCR 148/HCR 157 on a demolition waste reduction working group, and HR 184/HCR 194 on a mattress stewardship program working group. Testimony on these waste-related measures was generally supportive from environmental groups and some individuals, while the Department of Health supported the mattress stewardship proposal. The Department of Health also commented that a proposed study on recyclable/biodegradable/compostable labeling was very broad and would require additional resources to carry out effectively.
The committee then took up several energy-related resolutions. HR 192/HCR 202 would create a task force on Hawaii’s future energy pathways, and HR 194/HCR 204 would ask the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cost reductions and financial risk. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the PUC offered support or comments on these measures, with environmental and industry groups also submitting testimony. Members questioned the Energy Office and PUC at length about errors in prior analyses, competitive bidding, and whether utility proposals could proceed through waiver processes; the PUC said any proposal would still be reviewed and that it generally prefers competitive bidding, while the Energy Office said some issues were being characterized differently and would follow up on waiver standards.
Additional measures addressed data centers, liquefied natural gas, and utility oversight. HR 196/HCR 206 would convene a working group on the impacts of large data centers, and HR 197/HCR 207 would require conditions before the PUC approves LNG-related costs; testimony on LNG was split, with supporters urging caution and opponents arguing LNG should not be pursued. HR 193/HCR 2003 sought a written status update on implementation of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, and HR 191/HCR 201 and HR 33/HCR 33 dealt with sewage and wastewater issues, both drawing support from environmental and community groups. The committee also heard strong support for HR 141/HCR 149 on Red Hill remediation meetings and HR 190/HCR 200 on reassessing military PFAS cleanup decisions; the Board of Water Supply testified in support and described ongoing PFAS testing and concerns beyond Red Hill. The transcript ends as the committee moved into decision-making, with the chair indicating a recommendation to pass HR 12/HCR 10.