RELATING TO HOUSING.

HB2362

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2362

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Housing
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that following the
devastation of Hurricane Iniki and updated building codes, newer developments
must be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane.
�
However, an article published by Hawaii News
Now in 2023, found that nearly two-thirds of the single-family homes on Oahu
have no hurricane protections.
�
In
general, many of Hawaii's single-family homes are single-wall construction,
which was a style only phased out in the 1970's.

����
In the summer of 2025, many Hawaii
residents began receiving notices of hurricane insurance cancellations from
insurance companies.
�
This issue has been
a national trend especially in other states such as Florida, California, and
Louisiana, due to these states being in regions that have high-risk areas for
wildfire and hurricanes.
�
Many insurance
companies are re-evaluating their risk due to an uptick in natural disasters,
aging infrastructure, and new construction risk.
�
Therefore, it is crucial for the State to aid
residents' homes in being better prepared for natural disasters.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to require the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane
retrofitting.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�46-
�
��
Automatic Permit for Hurricane Retrofit.
�
(a)
�
Permit applications for single-family
housing projects in each county shall be eligible for automatic permit approval
pursuant to this section.

����
(b)
�
A person who owns residential property and
who seeks to retrofit a residential property under this section shall select an
evaluator from a list of evaluators published by the county.

����
(c)
�
The evaluator shall examine the person's
residential property and shall identify all improvements necessary for the
residential property to achieve the following standards:

����
(1)
�
Insurance
Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof;

����
(2)
�
Insurance
Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified silver;

����
(3)
�
Insurance
Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified gold; or

����
(4)
�
Any similar
standard approved by the county.

����
(d)
�
A person receiving a permit under this section
shall hire a contractor who meets the eligibility requirements.
�
To be eligible to perform retrofit work under
this section, a contractor shall:

����
(1)
�
Be certified by
the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety or another organization
approved by the county;

����
(2)
�
Be capable of
performing work that satisfies the standards prescribed by the county;

����
(3)
�
Maintain proof
with the county that the contractor:

���������
(A)
�
Is
licensed under chapter 444;

���������
(B)
�
Is
registered to do business in the State;

���������
(C)
�
Maintains
a general liability policy of $500,000 in liability coverage;

���������
(D)
�
Maintains
workers' compensation as required by law; and

���������
(E)
�
Has
an active Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof
contractor certification or fortified professional certification, or another
certification approved by the county;

����
(5)
�
Maintain
current and accurate contact information with the county;

����
(6)
�
Have no record
of disciplinary action by the contractors license board; and

����
(7)
�
Meet any other
eligibility requirements established by the county.

����
(e)

�
Nothing in this section shall be construed
to allow any violation of federal, state, or county laws or rules.

����
For the purposes of this section:

"Insurance Institute for Business and Home
Safety fortified roof" means construction featuring the following:

����
(1)
�
Enhanced roof
deck attachments;

����
(2)
�
Sealed roof
deck;

����
(3)
�
Locked down
roof edges; and

����
(4)
�
Wind and rain
resistant attic vents.

����
"Insurance Institute for
Business and Home Safety fortified silver" means construction in
compliance with fortified roof standards and featuring the following:

����
(1)
�
Impact
protection for windows and doors;

����
(2)
�
Impact and
pressure rated garage doors;

����
(3)
�
Reinforced
soffits;

����
(4)
�
Anchored
attached structures; and

����
(5)
�
Gable end
bracing.

����
"Insurance Institute for
Business and Home Safety fortified gold" means construction in compliance
with fortified silver standards and featuring the following:

����
(1)
�
Pressure rated
windows and doors;

����
(2)
�
Stronger
exterior sheathing;

����
(3)
�
Engineered roof
to wall connections;

����
(4)
�
Engineered
story to story connections; and

����
(5)
�
Engineered wall
to foundation connections.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Housing;
Building Permits; Automatic Approval; Retrofitting; Hurricane Resistant

Description:

Requires
the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting under
certain conditions.

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