SUPPORT SB1166 SD2 HD2: Hold Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable
/April 8 Update
SB1166 SD2 HD2 passed unamended out of the House Finance Committee on April 7. This measure would allow insurance companies and the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to pursue claims against Big Oil for climate-related disaster payouts—providing potential relief to policyholders facing skyrocketing premiums while holding fossil fuel companies accountable for the devastating impacts climate destabilization will inflict upon our islands and communities.
Mahalo nui to the 79 individuals and organizations who submitted testimony in support and special thanks to Chair Todd and Vice Chair Takenouchi for passing this measure.
April 4 Update
SB1166 SD2 HD2 would allow insurance companies and the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to pursue claims against Big Oil for climate-related disaster payouts—providing potential relief to policyholders facing skyrocketing premiums while holding fossil fuel companies accountable for the devastating impacts climate destabilization will inflict upon our islands and communities. This measure is being heard on Tuesday, April 7 at 2pm in room 308, before the House Finance Committee (to be broadcast live on Youtube here).
Please take a moment to submit testimony and ask your friends to do the same! And if you are able, consider testifying verbally on SB1166 SD2 HD2. Sample testimony and instructions below.
Sample Testimony for SB1166 SD2 HD2
Aloha Chair Todd, Vice Chair Takenouchi, and Members of the Committee,
My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT SB1166 SD2 HD2.
Hawaiʻi is already experiencing the growing impacts of climate destabilization, from skyrocketing insurance premiums to increasingly severe storms and weather-related disasters. Families and communities across our islands, along with their insurance companies, are being forced to shoulder the financial burden of a crisis driven by decades of deception and cover-ups perpetrated by the fossil fuel industry. This bill accordingly seeks both financial relief for local residents, and greater fairness and accountability in our existential fight against climate destabilization.
SB1166 SD2 HD2 would allow insurers serving Hawaiʻi, including the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund, to pursue claims against fossil fuel companies and other responsible parties for payouts arising from climate disasters. By doing so, it helps ensure that the costs of these events are not borne solely by Hawaiʻi residents and their insurance providers. This will help protect local homeowners and businesses from even higher insurance costs or losing insurance coverage altogether. It will also help Hawaiʻi insurance providers and the state do their part in the fight to hold Big Oil and other fossil fuel giants accountable for the harms they are inflicting and will continue to inflict on our communities, economy, and future generations.
Accordingly, I respectfully urge the Committee to PASS SB1166 SD2 HD2. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Testimony instructions
Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email).
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter “SB1166” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information, select “SUPPORT”, write or copy/paste your testimony, and select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able!
Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4).
Don’t forget to spread the word!
March 24 Update
The bill to help hold fossil fuel giants accountable for our insurance and climate crises is moving forward and needs your help! This Wednesday, March 25 at 2pm, the House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee will hear SB1166 SD2 HD1 in room 325 (watch live online here). This measure would allow insurance companies to pursue claims against Big Oil for climate-related disaster payouts—providing potential relief to policyholders facing skyrocketing premiums while holding fossil fuel companies accountable for the harms impacting our islands and communities.
Sample Testimony for SB1166 SD2 HD2
Aloha Chair Todd, Vice Chair Takenouchi, and Members of the Committee,
My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT SB1166 SD2 HD2.
Hawaiʻi is already experiencing the growing impacts of climate destabilization, from skyrocketing insurance premiums to increasingly severe storms and weather-related disasters. Families and communities across our islands, along with their insurance companies, are being forced to shoulder the financial burden of a crisis driven by decades of deception and cover-ups perpetrated by the fossil fuel industry. This bill accordingly seeks both financial relief for local residents, and greater fairness and accountability in our existential fight against climate destabilization.
SB1166 SD2 HD2 would allow insurers serving Hawaiʻi, including the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund, to pursue claims against fossil fuel companies and other responsible parties for payouts arising from climate disasters. By doing so, it helps ensure that the costs of these events are not borne solely by Hawaiʻi residents and their insurance providers. This will help protect local homeowners and businesses from even higher insurance costs or losing insurance coverage altogether. It will also help Hawaiʻi insurance providers and the state do their part in the fight to hold Big Oil and other fossil fuel giants accountable for the harms they are inflicting and will continue to inflict on our communities, economy, and future generations.
Accordingly, I respectfully urge the Committee to PASS SB1166 SD2 HD2. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Testimony instructions
Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email).
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter “SB1166” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information, select “SUPPORT”, write or copy/paste your testimony, and select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able!
Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4).
Don’t forget to spread the word!
March 19 Update
SB1166 SD2 passed out of the House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee on March 18. This measure would allow insurance companies to hold Big Oil accountable for climate-related disaster payouts - providing potentially significant relief to policyholders already facing skyrocketing insurance premiums, while making fossil fuel giants pay for the harms they will inflict on our islands and communities.
Mahalo nui to the 74 individuals and organizations who submitted testimony in support and special thanks to Chair Matayoshi and Vice Chair Grandinetti for passing this measure.
Bill Background & Info
SB1166 SD2, a critical bill that has been “held over” and now resurrected from last session, is being heard by the House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee on Wednesday, March 18 at 2pm in Conference Room 329 (watch online here). Please take a moment now to submit written testimony and provide verbal testimony on Wednesday if can!
What SB1166 SD2 does:
This measure would allow insurance companies to hold Big Oil accountable for climate-related disaster payouts - providing potentially significant relief to policyholders already facing skyrocketing insurance premiums, while making fossil fuel giants pay for the harms they will inflict on our islands and communities.
Why this is important:
Hawaiʻi is drowning - literally and figuratively - in skyrocketing home insurance rates, as well as from ever-worsening sea level rise, floods, and other climate disasters that are driving this insurance crisis. Meanwhile, the perpetrators of the climate crisis continue to make trillions of dollars per year, even as they work to condemn our children, grandchildren, and generations yet unborn to a future of unprecedented devastation.
SB166 SD2 will allow Hawaiʻi to do its part in the fight against the fossil fuel companies that are drowning our islands and killing our planet, by allowing the state and insurance providers to file suit and make these corporations pay for the damage they are inflicting on our ‘āina and people. Funds recovered from these lawsuits will also help to stabilize our insurance rates, and keep insurers from leaving Hawaiʻi.
Sample Testimony for SB1166 SD2
Aloha Chair Matayoshi, Vice Chair Grandinetti, and Members of the Committee,
My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT SB1166 SD1.
Hawaiʻi is already experiencing the growing impacts of climate destabilization, from skyrocketing insurance premiums to increasingly severe storms and weather-related disasters. Families and communities across our islands, along with their insurance companies, are being forced to shoulder the financial burden of a crisis driven by decades of deception and cover-ups perpetrated by the fossil fuel industry. This bill accordingly seeks both financial relief for local residents, and greater fairness and accountability in our existential fight against climate destabilization.
SB1166 SD1 would allow insurers serving Hawaiʻi to pursue claims against fossil fuel companies and other responsible parties for payouts arising from climate disasters. By doing so, it helps ensure that the costs of these events are not borne solely by Hawaiʻi residents and their insurance providers. This will help protect local homeowners and businesses from even higher insurance costs or losing insurance coverage altogether. It will also help Hawaiʻi insurance providers do their part in the fight to hold Big Oil and other fossil fuel giants accountable for the harms they are inflicting and will continue to inflict on our communities, economy, and future generations.
To the extent that state funds may also be used to provide alternative insurance coverage for those priced out by private providers, such as through the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund, I respectfully but strongly urge the committee to also enable the state Attorney General to pursue claims against fossil fuel corporations for taxpayer-funded payouts arising from climate disasters.
Accordingly, I respectfully urge the Committee to PASS this measure, with the amendment described above.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Testimony instructions
Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter "SB1166" where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony, select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able!
Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4)