SB1166 Summary

• Creates a new civil cause of action allowing individuals and insurers to sue "responsible parties" (fossil fuel companies) for damages from climate disasters, extreme weather, and climate change impacts, with a minimum damage threshold of $10,000 and a three-year statute of limitations.

• Establishes joint and several strict liability for responsible parties and bars numerous traditional legal defenses including claims that climate events are acts of God, force majeure, or unforeseeable.

• Requires the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and private insurers to account for proceeds recovered through subrogation claims and civil actions against responsible parties when setting insurance rates.

• Defines "responsible parties" as entities that engaged in misleading or deceptive practices about fossil fuel products' connection to climate change, excluding federal, tribal, and state governments.

• Effective date is July 1, 2050.