THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	198
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

ENCOURAGING HAWAII INSURERS and the Hawaii Property Insurance Association TO REDUCE INSURANCE costs ON LOCAL RESIDENTS BY PURSUING subrogation CLAIMS AGAINST POLLUTERS KNOWINGLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WORSENING CLIMATE IMPACTS AFFECTING HAWAII INSURANCE RATES.

 

 

     WHEREAS, warming sea and air temperatures due to heat trapped by increasing carbon emissions are worsening weather events, including hurricanes and droughts, and destabilizing Hawaii's climate; and

 

     WHEREAS, overwhelming evidence demonstrates that certain responsible polluters in the fossil fuel industry have been aware of their contribution to climate change for decades, and have knowingly engaged in misleading and deceptive practices regarding the connection between their products and climate change, exacerbating climate-related harms; and

 

     WHEREAS, climate-related harms pose a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents or, and visitors to, Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, injured parties deserve to be made whole; and

 

     WHEREAS, increasing climate-related disasters and risk have contributed significantly to the destabilization of the State's insurance industry, particularly in the property and casualty insurance sector, and has led to rising premiums and increasing non-renewal rates due to payouts for climate-related damages, including the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires; and

 

     WHEREAS, insurers and injured parties have previously pursued claims against responsible parties related to the opioid epidemic, big tobacco, and other major parties responsible for widespread damages affecting insurance premiums to ensure that the burden of financial loss does not fall solely on policyholders and taxpayers; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from climate disasters, extreme weather events attributable to climate change, and harms resulting from long-term changes to the climate system, with protection including affordable access to a functioning insurance market in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State maintains a compelling interest in protecting consumers from misleading and deceptive practices; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body encourages Hawaii insurers and the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to reduce insurance costs on local residents by pursuing subrogation claims against polluters knowingly responsible for worsening climate impacts affecting Hawaii insurance rates; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Attorney General; Insurance Commissioner; Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; and Plan Administrator of the Hawaii Property Insurance Association.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Insurance; Claims; Polluters; Climate Change; Insurance Rates