Bill > SB1167

This bill requires the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to update its operational plan to include filing and litigating subrogation claims against parties responsible for climate change-related damages, and to adjust insurance rates to account for proceeds recovered through these claims. The bill is grounded in extensive findings about climate change impacts in Hawaii, including rising sea levels, increased wildfire risks, temperature changes, and insurance market instability. The legislature asserts that fossil fuel companies have knowingly misled the public about climate change for decades, contributing to environmental and economic damages. By mandating these subrogation actions, the bill aims to hold responsible parties accountable for their role in climate disasters and to help stabilize Hawaii's insurance market. The bill requires the Hurricane Relief Fund to proactively pursue legal claims against entities that have spread misinformation about climate change, with the goal of recovering funds spent on climate-related insurance claims. Specifically, the bill amends existing law to add a new requirement that the fund's operational plan must include filing and litigating subrogation claims related to climate disasters, and insurance rates must be calculated to reflect potential recoveries from these claims.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1167&year=2025