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HB659
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
659
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to hurricane resistant criteria
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that subsection (c) of section 107-27, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, was established by Act 84, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018 (Act 84).
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However, the process for enacting Act 84 was
found to be unconstitutional by the Hawai
�
i supreme court in
League
of Women Voters of Honolulu v. State of Hawaii
, 150 Hawai
ʻ
i
182, 499 P.3d 382 (2021), and the subsection is no longer valid law.
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The legislature further finds that the
underlying policy of Act 84 � to require consideration of hurricane resistant
criteria in the design and construction of new public schools � is meritorious
and should be applied to all new state buildings.
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The purpose of this Act is to require the
design and construction of new state buildings to consider hurricane resistant
criteria.
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SECTION
2
.
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Section 107-27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:
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"
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107-27
�
Design of
state buildings.
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(a)
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No later than one year after the adoption of codes or standards pursuant
to section 107-24(c), the design of all state building construction shall be in
compliance with the Hawaii state building codes, except state building
construction shall be allowed to be exempted from:
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(1)
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County codes that have not adopted the
Hawaii state building codes;
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(2)
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Any county code amendments that are
inconsistent with the minimum performance objectives of the Hawaii state
building codes or the objectives enumerated in this part; or
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(3)
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Any county code amendments that are
contrary to code amendments adopted by another county.
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(b)
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Exemptions shall include county ordinances
allowing the exercise of indigenous Hawaiian architecture adopted in accordance
with section 46-1.55.
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[
(c)
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The State shall consider hurricane resistant
criteria when designing and constructing new public schools for the capability
of providing shelter refuge.
]
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(c)
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For state buildings constructed on or after
July 1, 2025, the State shall consider hurricane resistant criteria when
designing and constructing new state buildings for the capability of providing
shelter refuge.
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(d)
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Beginning July 1, 2023, where feasible and
cost-effective, the design of all new state building construction shall:
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(1)
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Maximize energy and water efficiency
measures;
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(2)
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Maximize energy generation potential;
and
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(3)
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Use building materials that reduce the
carbon footprint of the project."
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SECTION 3.
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Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Public
Improvements; State Building Design and Construction; New State Buildings;
Disaster Preparedness; Hurricane; Standards
Description:
Requires
the State to consider hurricane resistant criteria when designing and
constructing new state buildings, constructed on or after 7/1/2025, for the
capability of providing shelter refuge.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.