Bill > HB242

This bill establishes an electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling and reuse working group within the Hawaii State Energy Office to address the growing challenge of managing EV batteries as electric vehicle usage increases in the state. The working group will be composed of key government officials, including the chief energy officer and the director of health as co-chairs, along with representatives from various industries such as EV manufacturing, automotive repair, battery storage, and electronic waste recycling. The group's primary objectives include developing best management practices for EV battery recycling and reuse, coordinating with relevant organizations, and creating policy recommendations for the legislature. By December 2026, the working group is required to submit a comprehensive report analyzing opportunities and barriers to battery reuse, potential energy storage applications, recycling options (both in-state and out-of-state), cost and environmental impacts, and the feasibility of establishing an EV battery recycling program. The working group will examine these issues in the context of Hawaii's growing EV market, which saw a 23% increase in registered electric vehicles between October 2023 and October 2024, with a focus on preventing environmental harm from battery waste. The working group is set to be dissolved on June 30, 2027, after completing its research and submitting its findings.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=242&year=2025