SB17 • 2026

RELATING TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: INOUYE
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
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 WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION.
OSFM; Wildfire Mitigation Working Group; Fire Marshal; Report; Positions; Appropriation ($) Establishes the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group.
Requires a report to the Legislature.
Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide administrative support to the working group.

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: SB17 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB17 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
17 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB17 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB17 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
17 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB17 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB17 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
17 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION .

Bill History

2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 600).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-10 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2146-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-08 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-04-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1342-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-19 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 137) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2943) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-03-04 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-03-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-20 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-20 S
Reported from PSM/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2563) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-18 S
The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on WLA deferred the measure until 02-18-26 1:02PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Inouye; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte.
2026-02-10 S
The committee on PSM has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-10 S
Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21.
2026-02-08 S
The committee on PSM has deleted the measure from decision making scheduled on 02-09-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-04 S
The committee(s) on PSM deferred the measure until 02-09-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-04 S
The committee(s) on WLA deferred the measure until 02-13-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
The committee(s) on PSM/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-01-21 S
Re-Referred to PSM/WLA, WAM.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-16 S
Referred to PSM/WTL, WAM.
2025-01-15 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2025-01-08 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION.
OSFM; Wildfire Mitigation Working Group; Fire Marshal; Report; Positions; Appropriation ($)
Establishes the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group. Requires a report to the Legislature. Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide administrative support to the working group. Appropriates funds. Revises the appropriations made by Act 302, SLH 2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB17

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

17

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the State recognizes the increasing threat of wildfires
to our communities, natural resources, and economy, and that the State is
committed to proactively addressing this growing challenge through a
comprehensive and collaborative approach.
�

Understanding the need for a multifaceted strategy, the legislature
further finds that a working group comprised of government agencies, fire
experts, economists, legal experts, industry leaders, large landowners, and
stakeholders is required to find solutions that address the State's wildfire
preparedness and mitigation challenges and increase the State's wildfire
preparedness and mitigation practices.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
establish a wildfire mitigation working group.

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SECTION 2.
�

(a)
�
There is established a
wildfire mitigation working group to:

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(1)
�
Develop
a system of state tax incentives, penalties, and state-level funding support
for managing land to adequately reduce fire risk;

����
(2)
�
Chart
a plan for retrofitting unsafely designed subdivisions to have adequate
evacuation routes;

����
(3)
�
Chart
the State's course to increase workforce development in land management and
wildfire mitigation sectors;

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(4)
�
Work
with industry leaders and unions to improve ignition-resistant building
strategies that are both safe and cost-effective;

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(5)
�
Integrate
food security and climate resilience initiatives with wildfire prevention,
safety, and resilience work; and

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(6)
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Identify
funding sources and launch a state-level competitive grant funding opportunity
to support fuels management on private lands.

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(b)
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The working group shall be comprised of the following members:

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(1)
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The
state fire marshal, who shall serve as co-chair;

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(2)
�
The
director of the office of planning and sustainable development, who shall serve
as co-chair;

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(3)
�
The
chair of the house of representatives standing committee on water and land;

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(4)
�
The
chair of the senate standing committee on water and land;

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(5)
�
The
chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission or their designee;

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(6)
�
The
chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or their designee;

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(7)
�
The
director of transportation or their designee;

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(8)
�
The
director of taxation or their designee;

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(9)
�
The
airports rescue fire chief from the airports division of the department of
transportation;

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(10)
�
A
representative from the land division of the department of land and natural
resources;

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(11)
�
A
fire protection forester from the wildfire management branch of the division of
forestry and wildlife within the department of land natural resources;

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(12)
�
The
fire chief of each county;

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(13)
�
An
economist from the university of Hawaii economic research organization, to be
selected by the executive director of the university of Hawaii economic
research organization;

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(14)
�
An
economist from the university of Hawaii at Manoa, to be selected by the
president of the university of Hawaii at Manoa;

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(15)
�
An
economist from the university of Hawaii at Hilo, to be selected by the
chancellor of the university of Hawaii at Hilo;

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(16)
�
A
wildfire expert from each county, to be invited by
the
state fire
marshal;

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(17)
�
A
representative of the ranching industry, to be invited by the state fire
marshal;

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(18)
�
A
representative of the Hawaii wildfire management organization, to be invited by
the chairperson of the state fire marshal;

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(19)
�
A
representative of the public, to be invited by the speaker of the house of
representatives; and

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(20)
�
A
representative of the public, to be invited by the president of the senate.

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(c)
�

No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, solely because of that member's participation on the working group.

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(d)
�

The office of planning and sustainable development shall provide
administrative support as required by the working group.

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(e)
�

The working group shall submit a complete report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2027.

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SECTION 3.
�

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
administrative expenses of the wildfire mitigation working group established by
section 2 of this Act.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning and
sustainable development for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

OPSD;
Wildfire Mitigation Working Group; Report; Appropriations

Description:

Establishes
the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group.
�

Requires a report to the Legislature.
�

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to provide
administrative support to the working group.
�

Makes appropriations.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.