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-S.B. NO. 52
 THE SENATE
+
+S.B. NO.
+
+52
+
 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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+S.D. 1
+
 STATE OF HAWAII
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-JAN 15 2055_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
+
 A BILL FOR AN ACT
+
 RELATING TO CARBON OFFSETS.
+
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
-SECTION 1. The legislature finds that climate change is
-the most pressing issue of our time. There are many
-contributors to climate change, and transportation-generated
-greenhouse gas emissions are a significant source. The
-legislature acknowledges that, within the transportation sector,
-the air transportation component faces particularly difficult
-technical challenges in reducing carbon dioxide emissions
-associated with air travel. Since air travel is essential to
-tourism, the legislature notes that air travel and its
-associated carbon emissions will remain key elements of Hawaii’s
-intertwined economy and climate for the foreseeable future.
-In the past few years, the United Nations has established
-an extensive framework for the provision of carbon offsets for
-carbon emissions resulting from international air travel, known
-as the carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international
-aviation (CORSIA). However, the Federal Aviation
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-S.B. NO. S2
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-Administration's CORSIA program does not apply to air travel to
-Hawai’i from the continental United States.
-The legislature further finds that, for essential
-activities including air travel, which are intractably
-resistant, at least in the near term, to technological solutions
-to carbon emission reductions, the use of carbon offsets to
-compensate for those emissions is a strategic necessity for
-achieving the zero-emission clean economy target set for the
-State by Act 15, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018.
-The legislature anticipates that many travelers will take
-advantage of a program where air travelers may voluntarily
-purchase carbon offsets from providers of the offsets, given the
-increasing awareness by air travelers of the climate change
-implications of their travel. The legislature additionally
-finds that the ease of purchasing offsets may have the effect of
-enhancing the desirability of travel to Hawai’i.
-Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the
-department of transportation to facilitate the voluntary
-purchase of verified carbon offsets by persons traveling by air
-to or from airports in Hawai’i to compensate for carbon dioxide
-emissions from air travel.
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+���� SECTION 1.� The
+legislature finds that climate change is the most pressing issue of our
+time.� There are many contributors to
+climate change, and transportation-generated greenhouse gas emissions are a significant
+source.� The legislature acknowledges
+that, within the transportation sector, the air transportation component faces
+particularly difficult technical challenges in reducing carbon dioxide
+emissions associated with air travel.�
+Since air travel is essential to tourism, the legislature notes that air
+travel and its associated carbon emissions will remain key elements of the
+State's intertwined economy and climate for the foreseeable future.
 
-Page 3
-S.B. NO.
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-SECTION 2. Chapter 261, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
-amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated
-and to read as follows:
-"§261- Air travel carbon offset purchase. (a) Pursuant
-to its authority under section 261-4, the department shall
-facilitate the voluntary purchase of verified carbon offsets by
-persons engaging in qualified air travel to or from an airport
-in the State. To effectuate this purpose, the department:
-(1) Shall accept requests from each person who will be
-engaging in, or has recently engaged in, qualified air
-travel to or from an airport in the State for
-assistance in voluntarily purchasing a verified carbon
-offset for the carbon dioxide emissions associated
+���� In
+the past few years, the United Nations has established an extensive framework
+for the provision of carbon offsets for carbon emissions resulting from
+international air travel, known as the carbon offsetting and reduction scheme
+for international aviation (CORSIA).�
+However, the Federal Aviation Administration's CORSIA program does not
+apply to air travel to Hawaii from the continental United States.
+
+���� The
+legislature further finds that, for essential activities including air travel, which
+are intractably resistant, at least in the near term, to technological
+solutions to carbon emission reductions, the use of carbon offsets to
+compensate for those emissions is a strategic necessity for achieving the zero-emission
+clean economy target set for the State by Act 15, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018.
+
+���� The
+legislature anticipates that many travelers will take advantage of a program
+where air travelers may voluntarily purchase carbon offsets from providers of
+the offsets, given the increasing awareness by air travelers of the climate
+change implications of their travel.� The
+legislature additionally finds that the ease of purchasing offsets may have the
+effect of enhancing the desirability of travel to the State.
+
+���� Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require
+the department of transportation to facilitate the voluntary purchase of
+verified carbon offsets by persons traveling by air to or from airports in the
+State to compensate for carbon dioxide emissions from air travel.
+
+���� SECTION 2.�
+Chapter 261, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section
+to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
+
+���� "�261-  � Air travel carbon offset purchase.� (a)�
+Pursuant to its authority under section 261-4, the department shall
+facilitate the voluntary purchase of verified carbon offsets by persons
+engaging in qualified air travel to or from an airport in the State.� To effectuate this purpose, the department:
+
+���� (1)� Shall accept requests from each
+person who will be engaging in, or has recently engaged in, qualified air
+travel to or from an airport in the State for assistance in voluntarily
+purchasing a verified carbon offset for the carbon dioxide emissions associated
 with the person's qualified air travel;
-(2) Shall use reasonable best efforts to facilitate the
-requestor's connection with a provider of verified
-carbon offsets for carbon dioxide emissions from air
-travel from whom the requestor may purchase a carbon
-offset for the requestor's trip;
-(3) Shall place information on the department's website
-describing the process established by the department
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-to assist air travelers with purchasing verified
-carbon offsets for their air travel from providers of
-the offsets, including interactive capability by which
-air travelers may arrange for the online purchase of
-verified carbon offsets;
-(4) Shall encourage airlines using airports in the State
-to provide links on the airlines' respective websites
-to the department's webpage concerning carbon offsets
-for air travel;
-(5) Shall maintain a list of public and private entities
-that provide verified carbon offsets for passenger air
-travel; and
-(6) May contract with other entities to conduct one or
-more of the duties described in paragraphs (1) through
-(5) .
-(b) For the purposes of this section:
-"Carbon offset" means a reduction in carbon dioxide or
-other greenhouse gases in, or emitted into, the atmosphere that
-is achieved by or on behalf of a person to compensate, in a
-carbon dioxide-equivalent amount, for the emissions of carbon
-dioxide resulting from air travel by the person to or from an
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+���� (2)� Shall use reasonable best efforts to
+facilitate the requestor's connection with a provider of verified carbon
+offsets for carbon dioxide emissions from air travel from whom the requestor
+may purchase a carbon offset for the requestor's trip;
 
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-S.B. NO. 52
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-airport in the State. "Carbon offset" includes an action that
-removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or that reduces
-future greenhouse gas emissions.
-"Qualified air travel" means any air travel regulated under
-this chapter that occurs between an airport in the State and any
-other airport in the State, another state, or United States
-territory.
-"Verified" means, with respect to a carbon offset, a
-reduction in carbon dioxide, or carbon dioxide-equivalent amount
-of other greenhouse gases, that is determined through a process
-of validation and verification by an independent third party to
-be real, permanent, and unlikely to occur in the absence of an
-offset program."
-SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
-SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
-INTRODUCED BY:
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+���� (3)� Shall place information on the
+department's website describing the process established by the department to
+assist air travelers with purchasing verified carbon offsets for their air
+travel from providers of the offsets, including interactive capability by which
+air travelers may arrange for the online purchase of verified carbon offsets;
 
-S.B. NO. 52
+���� (4)� Shall encourage airlines using
+airports in the State to provide links on every airline's respective website to
+the department's webpage concerning carbon offsets for air travel;
+
+���� (5)� Shall maintain a list of public and
+private entities that provide verified carbon offsets for passenger air travel;
+and
+
+���� (6)� May contract with other entities to
+conduct one or more of the duties described in paragraphs (1) through (5).
+
+���� (b)� For the purposes of this section:
+
+���� "Carbon
+offset" means a reduction in carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in,
+or emitted into, the atmosphere that is achieved by or on behalf of a person to
+compensate, in a carbon dioxide-equivalent amount, for the emissions of carbon
+dioxide resulting from air travel by the person to or from an airport in the
+State.� "Carbon offset"
+includes an action that removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or that
+reduces future greenhouse gas emissions.
+
+���� "Qualified
+air travel" means any air travel regulated under this chapter that occurs
+between an airport in the State and any other airport in the State, another
+state, or United States territory.
+
+���� "Verified"
+means, with respect to a carbon offset, a reduction in carbon dioxide, or
+carbon dioxide-equivalent amount of other greenhouse gases, that is determined
+through a process of validation and verification by an independent third party
+to be real, permanent, and unlikely to occur in the absence of an offset
+program."
+
+���� SECTION 3.�
+New statutory material is underscored.
+
+���� SECTION 4.�
+This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
+
 Report Title:
-DOT; Air Travel; Verified Carbon Offsets; Qualified Air Travel
+
+DOT; Air
+Travel; Verified Carbon Offsets; Qualified Air Travel
+
 Description:
-Requires the Department of Transportation to assist and enable a
-person to voluntarily purchase a verified carbon offset for
-carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the person's air travel
-to or from an airport in the State.
-The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
+
+Requires
+the Department of Transportation to assist and enable a person to voluntarily
+purchase a verified carbon offset for carbon dioxide emissions resulting from
+the person's air travel to or from an airport in the State.� Effective 7/1/2050.� (SD1)
+
+The summary description
+of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
 not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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