RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Budget Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, KITAGAWA, PERRUSO, POEPOE, TAKAYAMA, TARNAS
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the amount of funding or exact qualifications for grants.

Emergency Management Funding

This bill provides funding to the Governor's office, in collaboration with the Insurance Division, to plan tax credits and grants for low-income families to fortify their homes against disasters, oversee emergency shelter development, and hire necessary personnel.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates funds for the Governor's office to collaborate with the Insurance Division on planning income tax credits and grants for low-income taxpayers to strengthen their homes.
Oversees the development of emergency shelters, particularly those designed for hurricanes and tsunamis.
Hires necessary personnel to carry out these tasks.

Who It Names or Affects

The Governor's office
Low-income families who can receive grants to make their homes safer against disasters
People who need emergency shelter during natural disasters

Terms To Know

Tax credits: Money that people or businesses do not have to pay in taxes because of certain activities, like making home improvements.
Emergency shelters: Places where people can go for safety during a disaster when they cannot stay at their homes.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated.
It is unclear which specific low-income families will qualify for grants to fortify their residential real property.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to PBS/ECD, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
Office of the Governor; DCCA; Disaster Preparedness; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to: (1) plan and administer income tax credits relating to emergency management or disaster preparedness and grants for low-income taxpayers to fortify their residential real property; (2) oversee the development of emergency shelters; and (3) hire necessary personnel.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB354

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

354

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to emergency management
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�

The legislature finds that the
absence of tax incentives for home fortification, grants for low-income
families to strengthen their homes, and efforts to create and enhance hurricane
shelter capacity stems from a lack of a unified approach to securing funds and dedicated
personnel to plan and manage such initiatives.
�

Currently, the Hawaii emergency management agency is primarily focused
on post-disaster response efforts for events such as hurricanes, tsunamis, or
fires.
�
The legislature believes that the
State has an obligation to provide sufficient funding and resources to ensure
that residents of the State are thoroughly prepared for a natural disaster.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
appropriate funds for the office of the governor, in collaboration with the
insurance division of the department of commerce and consumer affairs, to:

����
(1)
�
Plan
and administer:

���������
(A)
�
Income
tax credits relating to emergency management or disaster preparedness; and

���������
(B)
�
Grants
for low-income taxpayers to fortify their residential real property;

����
(2)
�
Oversee
the increase of emergency shelters; and

����
(3)
�
Hire
necessary personnel.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the office of
the governor, in collaboration with the insurance division of the department of
commerce and consumer affairs, to:

����
(1)
�
Plan
and administer:

���������
(A)
�
Any
income tax credits relating to emergency management or disaster preparedness;
and

����
����
(B)
�
Grants for low-income taxpayers making eighty
per cent or less of the area median income to fortify their residential real
property;

����
(2)
�
Oversee
the development of emergency shelters, including hurricane and tsunami shelters
;
and

����
(3)
�
Hire personnel as needed to carry out the
purposes of this Act.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
office of the governor for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Office of
the Governor; DCCA; Disaster Preparedness; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance
Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to:
�
(1) plan and administer income tax credits
relating to emergency management or disaster preparedness and grants for
low-income taxpayers to fortify their residential real property; (2) oversee
the development of emergency shelters; and (3) hire necessary personnel.

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