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Committee backs bill to create Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program
Summary
The committee passed SB3103 to establish a Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program in the Department of Human Services; consumer advocates and utilities provided support and comment and members noted that implementing the program will be a budget decision.
The House committee voted to pass SB3103 SD2 HD1 to establish the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services and to require utilities and the public benefits fee administrator to provide information and assistance to program recipients.
Michael Angelo, executive director of the DCCA division of consumer advocacy, told the committee, "We stand in strong support of this bill." DHS staff also appeared and expressed support while providing technical comments and expressing readiness to answer implementation questions. Support came from the Green Infrastructure Authority and the Public Utilities Commission in written testimony and attendance.
Committee members noted the measure’s social‑services intent and flagged that whether it is funded will be a budgetary decision. The chair said the program is a valuable concept and that the fiscal impact will determine the Legislature’s ability to adopt it this session.
The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation and passed the bill to move forward with amendments agreed during the hearing. The committee’s action advances SB3103 to the next stage of the legislative process where budget decisions will be considered.
