RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION.

SB3059

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3059

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to fire prevention
.

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 prescribed burning is a technique used nationwide to
reduce fuel, such as dry grasses, that spark wildfires when combined in a
chemical reaction with sufficient heat and oxygen.
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By denying one of the elements of the
chemical reaction, catastrophic fires resulting in widespread damage and
potential loss of life may be prevented.
�

The usefulness of prescribed burning at preventing wildfires is
reflected in its codification in national and state legislation, such as in
Florida, Nevada, and Utah.

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The legislature further finds that Act 302,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, established the office of the state fire marshal
and gave the office authorization to develop and administer a community risk
reduction program.
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Unlike Act 303,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, which required the department of land and natural
resources to establish a similar community fuels reduction plan for lands under
their control and to report on progress made to the legislature, the office of
the state fire marshal and the county fire departments were given discretionary
authority to implement and support their program.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
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Require
the office of the state fire marshal and the county fire departments to develop
and administer the community risk reduction program;

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(2)
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Define
"prescribed burn" explicitly and include it as a required part of the
community risk reduction program; and

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(3)
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Require
the office of the state fire marshal to make annual reports to the legislature
on the status and progress of the community risk reduction program.

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SECTION 2.
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Section 132-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new
definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

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"
"Prescribed burn" means a
planned fire intentionally ignited for the purposes of fuel reduction.
"

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SECTION
3
.
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Section 132-43, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

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"
[
[
]
�132-43[
]
]
�
Community risk reduction program.
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(a)
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The office [
may
]
shall
develop and administer a community
risk reduction program that:

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(1)
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Emphasizes education and methods for
the prevention of wildfire risk;

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(2)
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Encourages cost-effective hardening and
retrofitting of structures that creates fire-resistant homes, businesses, and
public buildings; and

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(3)
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Facilitates vegetation management,
prescribed
burns,
the creation and maintenance of defensible space, and other fuel
modification activities that provide neighborhood or community-wide benefits
against wildfire.

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(b)
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The [
counties may
]
county fire
departments shall
opt into the community risk reduction program to provide
resources and localized knowledge of the community.

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(c)
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The office or [
counties
]
county
fire departments
may contract with educational or other nonprofit entities
to assist with the administration of the community risk reduction program.

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(d)
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The office shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty
days prior to the convening of each regular session detailing the progress made
toward meeting the requirements of subsection (a).
"

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SECTION 4.
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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 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Office of
the State Fire Marshal; County Fire Departments; Community Risk Reduction
Program; Prescribed Burn; Reports

Description:

Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the
County Fire Departments to develop and administer the Community Risk Reduction
Program.
�
Defines "prescribed
burn" and includes its use within the Community Risk Reduction Program.
�
Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal
to make annual reports to the Legislature.

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