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SB2501
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2501
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating
to Public Safety
.
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 Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, extended
the prohibition of counties from requiring the installation or retrofitting of
automatic fire sprinklers or automatic fire sprinkler systems in new or
existing detached residential one- and two-family dwelling units and
non-residential agricultural and aquacultural buildings and structures located
outside of urban areas, except to meet firefighting road access or water supply
requirements for residential one- and two-family dwelling units.
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Because of their reliability and
effectiveness in suppressing fires in their initial stages, national
residential building codes have required residential fire sprinklers since
2009.
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The legislature further finds that prohibiting
any measure that may be considered and adopted at the local level to improve
and enhance the fire survivability and reduce fire losses of community
residents is not in the best interest of public safety.
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Further, residential fire sprinklers greatly
reduce fire spread, thereby significantly reducing property damage and loss.
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The legislature also finds that the
intensity, severity, and spread of fires in residential buildings are directly
related to the building's contents and furnishings.
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Although improvements have been made in
building construction, design, and materials, the volatility and toxicity of
today's synthetic materials allow untenable conditions to be reached more
rapidly.
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The legislature recognizes that the
counties face unique challenges and issues related to fire protection,
including population density, proximity of structures, infrastructure, access,
and limited fire-protection resources.
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Therefore, the intention of this Act is to recognize and establish the
authority of individual counties.
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According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association�s fire
sprinkler initiative, twenty states currently allow counties to adopt codes requiring
the installation and retrofitting of fire sprinklers in residential family
units.
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The legislature additionally finds that the
state building code council is responsible for adopting, amending, and updating
building codes and standards in the State.
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In 2024, the state building code council
adopted the state residential code, which requires all state construction of
new one- and two-family dwellings to include residential fire sprinklers.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
amend Act 83 to repeal section 46-19.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on June 30,
2026.
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SECTION
2.
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Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012,
as amended by Act 53, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, is amended by amending
section 3 to read as follows:
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"SECTION
3.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2012; provided that on June 30, [
2027,
]
2026,
this Act shall be
repealed."
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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:
_____________________________
By Request
Report Title:
State
Fire Council Package; Public Safety; Fire Protection; Automatic Fire
Sprinklers; Counties
Description:
Repeals
on 6/30/2026 the provision prohibiting counties
from requiring the installation or retrofitting of automatic fire
sprinklers or automatic fire sprinkler systems in certain new or existing
detached residential one- and two-family dwelling units and non-residential
agricultural and aquacultural buildings and structures.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.