HB 1305 Summary

• Authorizes Hawaii and its electrical and natural gas utilities to enter into mutual assistance agreements with out-of-state utilities to restore critical infrastructure following natural disasters or emergencies.

• Adds four new definitions to Hawaii Revised Statutes: "electrical or natural gas facilities," "mutual assistance agreement," "out-of-state utility," and "state utility."

• Grants the governor power to suspend regulatory laws and licensing requirements for out-of-state utilities and their employees during a declared state of emergency to expedite disaster response.

• Establishes this authority as a finding and declared necessity of the state, alongside existing emergency management provisions and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact established in 2006.

• Takes effect July 1, 2019.