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SB2109
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2109
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING
TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMUNICATIONS
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that household
emergency preparedness is a critical element of statewide resilience and
continuity during hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis,
pandemics, supply chain disruptions, and other emergencies.
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The State is geographically remote and faces
heightened risk from delays in external response and support during major
disasters, increasing the importance of household self-sufficiency and advance
readiness.
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The
legislature further finds that the
Hawaii emergency
management agency
(HIEMA) recommends that households maintain a
fourteen-day supply of essential emergency supplies, including food, water, and
regularly used medications.
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Only
twelve per cent of households statewide appear to meet the fourteen-day
standard.
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Indeed, household preparedness
varies across counties; estimates of full adherence to the fourteen-day
standard include approximately 11.5% in the City and County of Honolulu, 19.5%
in the County of Hawaii, 8.9% in Maui County, and 8.5% in Kauai County.
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Also, many households perceive themselves as
prepared while not meeting the fourteen‑day standard, indicating a
substantial gap between perceived preparedness and actual readiness.
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The legislature further finds that reported
barriers to meeting the fourteen-day standard include limited storage space and
lack of information, among other constraints.
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Also, limited public awareness of the fourteen-day standard remains a
key obstacle.
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The
legislature further finds that households that are aware of HIEMA�s updated
fourteen-day recommendation and households that are familiar with general
preparedness guidelines are more likely to be prepared and to comply with
recommended stockpiling for water, food, and medical supplies.
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The
legislature further finds that residents� preferred channels for receiving
preparedness information differ by age group, supporting the need for a
coordinated, multi-channel communications strategy, including television for
older groups and internet news and social media for younger groups.
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Research recommends a statewide multi-media
communications plan and strategy, including television, internet, radio, and
mobile applications, to raise public awareness of HIEMA�s recommended
fourteen-day supply of household emergency food, water, and medicine.
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The
purpose of this Act is to strengthen public readiness by directing
HIEMA
to develop and implement a comprehensive
communications plan, strategy, and related media assets to educate and motivate
residents to maintain a fourteen-day supply of food, water, and essential
medications, using culturally appropriate, accessible, and multilingual
materials, and to evaluate and report progress to the legislature.
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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:
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�127A-A
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Fourteen-day emergency preparedness
communications program.
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(a)
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The
Hawaii emergency management agency shall develop and implement a statewide
public education and communications program to increase household preparedness
consistent with the agency's fourteen-day essential supplies recommendation for
food, water, and regularly used medications.
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(b)
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The program shall include the
development of a comprehensive communications plan and the creation and
dissemination of related media assets.
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At
a minimum, the plan shall:
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(1)
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Identify priority audiences, with
attention to populations disproportionately impacted by disasters, including
but not limited to households with low incomes, kūpuna, persons with
disabilities or access and functional needs, medically vulnerable individuals,
and communities with limited English proficiency;
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(2)
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Provide clear, actionable guidance
on how households can build and maintain a fourteen-day supply through phased
and affordable steps, including messaging that supports dignity, practicality,
and realistic household budgeting, and that addresses commonly reported
barriers including limited storage space and information gaps;
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(3)
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Include culturally relevant and
multilingual communications materials appropriate for statewide use, including
in formats accessible to persons with disabilities;
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(4)
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Specify and operationalize a
statewide multi‑media dissemination strategy, including television,
internet news sites, social media platforms, local radio, and mobile-based
communications, and tailor channel emphasis to documented age-group
preferences;
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(5)
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Establish a coordinated
dissemination schedule for year-round outreach and targeted outreach during
seasonal risk periods;
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(6)
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Strengthen and expand practical
information pathways for preparedness guidance, including:
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(A)
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Maintaining and promoting updated
preparedness content on Hawaii emergency management agency�s website;
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(B)
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Increasing enrollment in emergency
information updates and alerts;
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(C)
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Equipping state and county agencies
and community partners with co-branded toolkits to support diffusion through
trusted community ties; and
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(D)
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Incorporating in-person or virtual
informational meetings as appropriate for priority audiences; and
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(7)
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Include an evaluation framework with
measurable outcomes, including baseline and follow-up measures of:
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(A)
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Public awareness of Hawaii emergency
management agency�s fourteen-day recommendation;
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(B)
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Familiarity with emergency
preparedness guidelines; and
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(C)
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The share of households meeting the
fourteen‑day readiness threshold for water, food, and medical supplies,
including the share meeting the threshold for all essential supplies combined,
to the extent feasible.
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(c)
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Media assets developed under
this section may include but shall not be limited to:
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(1)
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Public service announcements for
radio, television, and digital platforms;
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(2)
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Print-ready and digital graphics,
fact sheets, checklists, and household planning templates;
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(3)
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A fourteen-day readiness social
media and partner communications toolkit for organizations and agencies;
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(4)
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Short instructional videos and
multilingual audio content; and
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(5)
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Templates that counties, community
partners, and state agencies may co-brand for consistent statewide messaging.
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(d)
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The Hawaii emergency
management agency may consult and coordinate with relevant state and county
agencies and community partners to implement this section, including but not
limited to the department of health; The department of education; The
department of human services; The office of Hawaiian affairs; and County
emergency management agencies, as appropriate.
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(e)
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The Hawaii emergency
management agency shall incorporate targeted communications that emphasize
region‑specific emergency preparedness recommendations and community‑based
practices, and may implement multimedia communications and georeferenced maps
to attract public attention to the urgent need for households to adhere to Hawaii
emergency management agency�s fourteen-day recommendations; provided that
outreach should include multilingual strategies and community-based information
sessions appropriate for Hawaii�s diverse populations.
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SECTION 3.
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(a)
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The Hawaii emergency management agency
shall submit a report to the legislature on the implementation and outcomes of
this Act no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular
session beginning in 2027 and continuing through 2029.
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(b)
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The report shall include, at a
minimum:
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(1)
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The comprehensive communications plan
developed pursuant to section 127A-A (b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, including
any updates made during the reporting period;
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(2)
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A summary of media assets produced and
dissemination activities conducted, including the channels used and the
frequency and timing of dissemination;
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(3)
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A list of partner organizations engaged
and the roles of each partner in dissemination, including use of co‑branded
toolkits and informational sessions;
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(4)
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Progress measures, including baseline
and follow-up indicators for:
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(A)
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Statewide and county-level public
awareness of Hawaii emergency management agency�s fourteen-day essential
supplies recommendation;
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(B)
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Familiarity with emergency preparedness
guidelines; and
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(C)
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Statewide and county-level estimates of
household preparedness and compliance relative to the fourteen-day
recommendation for water, food, and medical supplies, including the share
meeting the fourteen-day threshold for all essential supplies combined, to the
extent feasible;
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(5)
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A summary of barriers to emergency preparedness
identified through evaluation activities and actions taken to address those
barriers;
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(6)
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A description of how messaging and
outreach were targeted or tailored by county or audience segment, including
multilingual and accessibility measures, and use of region-specific
communications tools, if implemented;
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(7)
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Expenditures of any appropriated funds
and any other resources used to implement this Act; and
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(8)
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Recommendations for sustaining,
improving, or expanding the fourteen-day emergency preparedness communications
program.
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(c)
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The Hawaii emergency
management agency shall make the report publicly available on its website no
later than ten business days after submission to the legislature.
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SECTION
4.
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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 2026-2027 to implement
this Act, including planning, community engagement, production of media assets,
translation and accessibility services, evaluation, and outreach distribution
costs.
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The
sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii emergency management agency
for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 5.
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In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the
revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the
letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
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SECTION 6.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 7.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED
BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
HIEMA; Emergency
Preparedness; Emergency Communications; Program; Report; Appropriation
Description:
Requires
the Hawaii
Emergency Management Agency
to develop and
implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote
household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's fourteen-day
essential supplies recommendation.
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Requires annual reports to the Legislature.
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Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.