HB175 • 2026

RELATING TO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.

Active

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

Sponsor: LAMOSAO, CHUN, GRANDINETTI, KAHALOA, KILA, KITAGAWA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TARNAS, TODD
Last action: 2026-03-20
Official status: The committee on AEN deferred the measure.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.
Real Property Maintenance; Neglect; Fines; Enforcement; State; Counties Requires owners or lessees of real property to maintain their property and establish penalties for failure to do so.
Allows for exceptions.
Requires DOA to establish rules for the enforcement and collection of fines for violations relating to the proliferation of invasive species.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB175 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB175 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
175 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE .

Bill History

2026-03-20 S
The committee on AEN deferred the measure.
2026-03-20 S
The committee on WLA deferred the measure.
2026-03-20 S
The committee on PSM deferred the measure.
2026-03-17 S
The committee(s) on WLA/AEN/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 2:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-02-02 S
Re-Referred to WLA/AEN/PSM, JDC.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to WTL/AEN/PSM, JDC.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 196).
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 FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1147), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-24 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.
2025-02-21 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 733), recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-11 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Hashem.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-11-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 55) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-01-28 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.
2025-01-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 01-28-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-14 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.
Real Property Maintenance; Neglect; Fines; Enforcement; State; Counties
Requires owners or lessees of real property to maintain their property and establish penalties for failure to do so. Allows for exceptions. Requires DOA to establish rules for the enforcement and collection of fines for violations relating to the proliferation of invasive species. Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules for the enforcement and collection of fines for violations relating to the prevention of wildfires and other public safety hazards. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB175

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

175

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to property maintenance
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that neglected
properties create environmental and public safety hazards, including serving as
breeding grounds for invasive species, raising the risk of wildfires, and
adversely affecting surrounding communities.
�

Addressing property neglect is essential to protect Hawaii's ecosystems,
mitigate wildfire risks, and maintain the quality of life for residents.

����
Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to require owners, lessees, or managers of real
property to maintain their property and establish penalties for failure to do
so.

����
SECTION
2.
�
The Hawaii Revised Statutes is
amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

"
Chapter

PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE; NEGLECT; PENALTIES

����
�
-1
�
Property maintenance; requirements.
�
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, it
shall be the responsibility of any owner, lessee, or manager of real property to
ensure that their real property is regularly maintained to prevent:

����
(1)
�
The proliferation of invasive species,
including but not limited to plants, shrubs, grasses, or other vegetation that
are known to spread aggressively and threaten native ecosystems;

����
(2)
�
Conditions that raise the risk of wildfires,
such as excessive accumulation of dry vegetation, debris, or other combustible
materials; and

����
(3)
�
Public safety hazards, including overgrowth of
vegetation that obstructs pathways, roads, or access for emergency responders.

����
�
-2
�
Penalties.
�
(a)
�
Any
owner, lessee, or manager of real property whose property has been determined
by the applicable state or county agency
to pose
environmental or public safety risks as set forth in section
-1 shall be issued a written notice of violation specifying
the necessary corrective actions to be completed within a reasonable time limit,
not to exceed thirty days.

����
(b)
�
Failure to comply within the time limit
pursuant to subsection (a) shall result in:

����
(1)
�
A civil fine of no less than $1,000 and no
more than $10,000 per violation;

����
(2)
�
An additional fine of $100 per day for
continued noncompliance by the owner, lessee, or manager of the real property
beyond the initial notice period; and

����
(3)
�
Requiring the reimbursement of costs incurred
by the State or county for remediation efforts undertaken due to noncompliance
by the owner, lessee, or manager of the real property.

����
(c)
�
The penalties shall be levied against the
owner, lessee, or manager of the real property, as applicable.

����
�
-3
�
Exceptions.
�
Exceptions may be granted by the State or a
county for:

����
(1)
�
Real property that is under active
restoration, conservation, or agricultural management plans approved by the
State or county; or

����
(2)
�
Circumstances deemed beyond the reasonable
control of the owner, lessee, or manager of the real property, as determined by
the applicable state or county agency.

����
�
-4
�
Procedures for implementation of chapter.
�
(a)
�
The
department of land and natural resources and department of health shall adopt
rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement this chapter
,
including procedures for inspection, enforcement, appeals, and the collection
of fines
.

����
(b)
�
Each county shall adopt ordinances to
implement this chapter, including procedures for inspection, enforcement,
appeals, and the collection of fines.

����
�
-5
�
Fines; purposes.
�
(a)
�
Any
state or county agency that takes an enforcement action pursuant to this
chapter shall collect any applicable fines.

����
(b)
�
Any fines collected pursuant to this chapter
shall be expended by the applicable agency under subsection (a) for:

����
(1)
�
Invasive species control projects;

����
(2)
�
Wildfire prevention and response initiatives; or

����
(3)
�
Community education and outreach on property
maintenance and environmental safety.

����
�
-6
�
Other responsibilities and requirements.
�
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
release any owner, lessee, or manager of real property from any other
responsibility or requirement to maintain their real property pursuant to law,
including section 339-5."

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Property
Maintenance; Neglect; Fines; Enforcement; State; Counties

Description:

Requires
owners, lessees, or managers of real property to maintain their property and
establish penalties for failure to do so.
�

Allows for exceptions.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.