2026 Session Wrap: Hawaii
S.C.R.180 Adopted
Introducer(s): MCKELVEY, CHANG, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO, Elefante, San Buenaventura
URGING STATE AGENCIES THAT OWN OR CONTROL LAND IN WEST MAUI TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE AGGRESSIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FUEL REDUCTION, DEFENSIBLE SPACE, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS MEASURES TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK TO LAHAINA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
Companion Bills: HCR140, SR175, H.R.132
S.C.R.179 Enacted
Introducer(s): MCKELVEY, CHANG, FUKUNAGA, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO, Wakai
URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE FIRE CODE OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI RELATING TO FIRE HAZARDS, BRUSH CLEARANCE, FUEL BREAKS, ROADSIDE VEGETATION CLEARING, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS.
Companion Bills: HCR141, SR174, H.R.133
S.C.R.181 Enacted
Introducer(s): MCKELVEY, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO
URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ADOPT ORDINANCES THAT ESTABLISH WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PLANTATION TOWNS AND OTHER HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COUNTY OF KAUAI’S ORDINANCE NO. PM-2025-425, RELATING TO THE PLANTATION CAMP DISTRICT WILDFIRE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, AND OTHER STATE AND NATIONAL WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE BEST PRACTICES.
Companion Bills: HCR136, SR176
H.R.57 Enacted
Introducer(s): POEPOE, AMATO, PERRUSO
URGES THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DETERMINE AND CLEARLY DEFINE JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONOPOU BRIDGE AND TAKE COORDINATED ACTION TO ADDRESS RELATED SAFETY, WILDFIRE RISK, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS CONCERNS.
Companion Bill: HCR63
H.B.1823 Enacted
Introducer(s): HASHEM
RELATING TO THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT
Revises definition of “development” to clarify and expand the list of activities exempt from special management area (SMA) use permit requirements. The bill specifically exempts certain federal, state, or county-funded, authorized, or implemented infrastructure and improvement projects from SMA permit requirements if they are already exempt from an environmental assessment or have received a finding of no significant The definition of “infrastructure” includes water, wastewater, gas, drainage, electrical, communications, and transportation facilities. The bill maintains that if any otherwise exempt activity is found to have a cumulative or significant environmental or ecological impact on a special management area, it may still be classified as “development” and subject to permitting. The legislation aims to streamline the permitting process for essential public infrastructure projects, reducing delays while maintaining environmental safeguards.
S.B.2645 Enacted
Introducer(s): KANUHA
RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION
Establishes the State Fire Code as the minimum standard for fire and life safety across all counties, prohibiting counties from enacting less restrictive fire safety measures. Counties may propose stricter amendments to the State Fire Code, but these must be reviewed and approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to ensure consistency with statewide objectives and national standards. The bill creates a State Fire and Life Safety Special Fund, administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, to support fire code administration, prevention programs, training, research, public outreach, and related activities, with funding sourced from grants, donations, recoveries, interest, and legislative appropriations. The legislation modifies inspection requirements, mandating that the Office of the State Fire Marshal conduct fire and safety inspections at state facilities at intervals not exceeding once every three years, based on risk and occupancy, rather than annually.
S.B.2930 Enacted
Introducer(s): MCKELVEY, CHANG, HASHIMOTO
RELATING TO THE STATE RISK MANAGEMENT REVOLVING FUND
Related to 2023 Maui wildfires, the bill targets rebuilding and restoration of state facilities in Lahaina, Hawaii. The appropriations are designated for several key projects: the King Kamehameha III Elementary School, its associated roadway, David Malo Circle and Piilani homes, the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, and the Lahaina Public Library, with funds to be expended by the respective state agencies overseeing each project.
H.B.2498 Sent to Executive
Introducer(s): CHUN, HARTSFIELD, KAHALOA, KILA, MIYAKE, POEPOE
RELATING TO CARE HOMES
Establishes the Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program, to be administered by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, with the goal of enhancing the disaster resilience of licensed care home facilities on Oahu. The program is designed to assist care homes serving vulnerable populations—including seniors (kupuna), individuals with disabilities, and medically fragile residents—by supporting structural and operational improvements such as roof reinforcement, impact-resistant windows, backup power systems, air filtration, fire-resistant landscaping, and shelter-in-place modifications. Eligible facilities include various types of licensed residential care homes, with priority given to those serving low-income or medically dependent residents, those in high-risk hazard zones, older structures, and those demonstrating financial need. The program may provide grants, rebates, technical assistance, vulnerability assessments, and support for emergency power and cooling solutions.
2026 Wildfire Bill Tracking &
Forging a Resilient West Dashboard
Western States
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