Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HCR145

Introduced
3/16/26  
Refer
3/18/26  
Report Pass
4/2/26  

Caption

Urging The Insurance Division Of The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Convene A Working Group To Identify Feasible Options And Mechanisms To Protect The State And Its Residents Against The Effects Of Climate Change On The Availability And Affordability Of Insurance.

Impact

The resolution aims to tackle the widening gap in insurance affordability and availability resulting from climate change, which poses a significant risk to residents of Hawaii. It emphasizes the need for insurance market stability and addressing the burdens faced by policyholders and taxpayers, attributing some of the crisis to deceptive practices by fossil fuel companies. The working group will assess insurance exposure to extreme weather events and identify legally viable avenues for recovery from responsible parties, especially large oil and gas firms that are implicated in contributing to climate change.

Summary

HCR145 is a House Concurrent Resolution from Hawaii's Thirty-third Legislature that urges the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to form a working group. This group will explore feasible options and strategies to protect residents against the impacts of climate change, particularly focusing on the availability and affordability of insurance in response to increasingly severe climate disasters. The resolution highlights that recent climate events have exacerbated insurance issues in the state, leading to increased costs and nonrenewal rates, which threaten the financial stability of residents.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HCR145 is predominantly one of concern and urgency. There is a clear recognition of the threats posed by climate change, and there is a call for proactive measures to stabilize insurance markets and protect residents. Legislators express frustration over the past actions of fossil fuel companies and their contribution to climate crises, which resonates with calls for accountability and action to mitigate these impacts on residents. The resolution seeks to empower state institutions to take charge in addressing these pressing issues.

Contention

While HCR145 is broadly supported in identifying problems associated with climate change and its impact on insurance, contention may arise regarding the effectiveness of a working group in creating solutions. Questions may be raised about the adequacy of current laws and the feasibility of proposed legislation to recover costs from fossil fuel companies. Moreover, the debate may center on how best to balance the need for economic stability with the urgent demand for environmental accountability, as well as potential resistance from the industries implicated.

Companion Bills

HI HR137

Same As Urging The Insurance Division Of The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Convene A Working Group To Identify Feasible Options And Mechanisms To Protect The State And Its Residents Against The Effects Of Climate Change On The Availability And Affordability Of Insurance.

HI SCR118

Same As Urging The Insurance Division Of The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Convene A Working Group To Identify Feasible Options And Mechanisms To Protect The State And Its Residents Against The Effects Of Climate Change On The Availability And Affordability Of Insurance.

Previously Filed As

HI SCR222

Requesting The Office Of Consumer Protection Of The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Convene A Task Force To Assess Issues Related To The Availability Of Payment Options From Tow Companies.

HI SR197

Requesting The Office Of Consumer Protection Of The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Convene A Task Force To Assess Issues Related To The Availability Of Payment Options From Tow Companies.

HI HCR152

Requesting The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.

HI SCR198

Encouraging Hawaii Insurers And The Hawaii Property Insurance Association To Reduce Insurance Costs On Local Residents By Pursuing Subrogation Claims Against Polluters Who Knowingly Engaged In Misleading And Deceptive Practices Regarding The Connection Between Their Products And Climate Change.

HI SR178

Encouraging Hawaii Insurers And The Hawaii Property Insurance Association To Reduce Insurance Costs On Local Residents By Pursuing Subrogation Claims Against Polluters Who Knowingly Engaged In Misleading And Deceptive Practices Regarding The Connection Between Their Products And Climate Change.

HI HR146

Requesting The Department Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.

HI HCR193

Requesting The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs To Convene A Working Group To Examine And Consider The Transfer Of Native Hawaiian Burial Site Management Under Chapter 6e, Hawaii Revised Statutes, From The State Historic Preservation Division To The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs.

HI SCR70

Requesting The Director Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.

HI SR54

Requesting The Director Of Commerce And Consumer Affairs To Establish And Convene A Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group To Explore And Propose Legislation For The 2026 Legislative Session.

HI SR41

Urging The Congress Of The United States To Enact A National Reinsurance Program To Address The Multi-state Insurance Crisis Resulting From Catastrophic Natural Disasters.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.