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HB1321 • 2026

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODES.

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODES.

Energy
Active

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

Sponsor
HASHEM, LAMOSAO, MARTEN, PIERICK, POEPOE
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on updating processes for adopting or amending building codes without council approval.

Hawaii State Building Codes

This bill requires counties in Hawaii to adopt the state building codes within one year after they are adopted, and allows larger counties to set stricter energy-saving rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each county to use the Hawaii state building codes for construction within their area.
  • Sets a deadline of one year from when the codes are adopted for counties to start using them.
  • Allows counties with more than 500,000 people to make their energy-saving rules stricter than the state's.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Counties in Hawaii
  • Builders and developers who follow county construction rules

Terms To Know

Building Codes
Rules that say how buildings must be built to keep people safe.
Energy Conservation
Saving energy by using less power or making things more efficient.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a county fails to adopt the codes within one year.
  • It is unclear how counties will implement stricter energy-saving rules beyond the state's requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-02-05 H

    The committee(s) on HSG recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

  3. 2025-01-31 H

    Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 02-05-25 9:00AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  4. 2025-01-31 H

    The committee(s) on HSG recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-05-25.

  5. 2025-01-28 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Friday, 01-31-25 9:15AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  6. 2025-01-27 H

    Referred to HSG, JHA, referral sheet 4

  7. 2025-01-23 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  8. 2025-01-22 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODES.
Hawaii State Building Codes; Counties; Energy Conservation
Requires the counties to adopt the Hawaii state building codes no later than one year after its adoption. Authorizes a county with a population in excess of 500,000 to amend its building energy conservation code to require more stringent energy-saving performance.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB1321

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1321

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the Hawaii state building codes
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 107-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�
107-28
�
County authority to [
amend and
] adopt
the Hawaii state building codes without council approval.
�
(a)
�
The governing body of each county shall [
amend,
]
adopt[
, and update
] the Hawaii state building codes as they apply within
their respective jurisdiction, in accordance with section 46-1.5(13), without
approval of the council.
�
Each county
shall [
amend and
] adopt the Hawaii state building codes and standards
listed in section 107-25, as the referenced Hawaii state building codes and
standards for its respective county building code ordinance, no later than [
two
years
]
one year
after the adoption of the Hawaii state building
codes.

����
(b)
�

If a county does not [
amend
]
adopt
the Hawaii state
building codes within the [
two-year
]
one-year
time frame, the
Hawaii state building codes shall become applicable as [
an interim
]
county building code.

����
(c)
�
A county with a population in excess of
500,000 may amend its building energy conservation code to require more
stringent energy-saving performance than the Hawaii state building codes and
standards listed in section 107-25.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii
State Building Codes; Counties; Energy Conservation

Description:

Requires
the counties to adopt the Hawaii state building codes no later than one year
after its adoption.
�
Authorizes a county
with a population in excess of 500,000 to amend its building energy
conservation code to require more stringent energy-saving performance.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.