HB1158 • 2026

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2026-03-19
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on the consequences for individuals found guilty of gross negligence or wanton acts.

Firefighting at Commercial Harbors

This bill limits the legal responsibility of individuals who provide firefighting services in commercial harbors, roadsteads, and state-owned waterfront areas.

What This Bill Does

Limits civil liability for individuals providing firefighting services upon request from someone known as a firefighter at commercial harbors or roadsteads.
Protects these individuals from being held responsible for damages caused during firefighting unless their actions were grossly negligent or wanton.

Who It Names or Affects

Individuals who provide firefighting services in commercial harbors, roadsteads, and state-owned waterfront areas.

Terms To Know

Gross negligence: A very serious lack of care that shows a person did not care about the safety and well-being of others.
Wanton acts or omissions: Intentional actions or failures to act that show disregard for the rights, property, or safety of others.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone is found guilty of gross negligence or wanton acts.
It will take effect on July 1, 3000, which seems to be a placeholder date and may change in the future.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment limits the civil liability of individuals who provide firefighting services with a vessel at commercial harbors, roadsteads, or state-controlled waterfront areas to damages resulting from gross negligence or wanton acts.

Adds new section to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 266 that protects firefighters providing services with vessels from civil liability except for damages caused by their gross negligence or wanton acts.

The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.
It is unclear why the effective date is set so far in the future.

Bill History

2026-03-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
2026-03-19 S
Reported from TRS/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3102) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
2026-03-12 S
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Inouye, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2026-03-12 S
The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in TRS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha, Lee, C..
2026-03-06 S
The committee(s) on TRS/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-26 3:00PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-02 S
Re-Referred to TRS/PSM, JDC.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to TCA/PSM, JDC.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 339).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1081), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-12 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-12 H
Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 457), recommending referral to JHA.
2025-02-07 H
The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Lamosao, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Ichiyama.
2025-02-04 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-07-25 9:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on PBS with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 108) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to PBS.
2025-01-30 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica.
2025-01-28 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 01-30-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to TRN, PBS, JHA, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.
Department of Transportation; Firefighting at Commercial Harbors; Limited Liability
Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services with a firefighting vessel at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1158

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1158

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
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Chapter 266,
Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding to part I a new section to be
appropriately designated and to read as follows:

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�266-
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Firefighting; limited liability.
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Any person who renders firefighting services
upon a reasonable command by someone known to the person as a firefighter at
any commercial harbor or roadstead, any commercial harbor or waterfront
improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a
commercial harbor or roadstead shall not be liable for any civil damages
resulting from the person's acts or omissions occurring during the course of
firefighting, except for such damages as may result from the person's gross
negligence or wanton acts or omissions.
"

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SECTION 2.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 3.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Firefighting at Commercial
Harbors; Limited Liability

Description:

Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting
services at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial
harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or
any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting
from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.