RELATING TO PLANT-BASED BUILDING MATERIALS.

SB9

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

9

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to plant-based building materials
.

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 Hawaii's climate, with a year-round growing season and
ample rain in many areas, has several potential advantages for growing the
materials that can be processed into structural plant-based building
materials.
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For example, with sufficient
water, there are types of clumping bamboo that can grow very rapidly and can be
processed into building materials that are stronger, more flexible, and lighter
than timber or steel and can be made more fire- and termite-resistant than
wood.
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"Hempcrete" developed
from industrial hemp can substitute for building blocks.
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"Biocements" produced from
cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae also known as "pond scum," can
substitute for Portland cement.
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The
legislature further finds that these plant-based building materials, and others,
could bring green agriculture jobs to Hawaii.

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The legislature further finds that these
plant-based building materials could also help Hawaii meet its net negative
carbon and greenhouse gas goals because they sequester carbon, whereas
production of traditional building materials such as timber, steel, and cement
emit very large amounts of greenhouse gases.

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The legislature finds that the development
of plant-based building materials in the State is a matter of statewide
concern.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish,
and appropriate funds for, a working group to report on how best to grow the
appropriate plants; develop plant-based building materials; and create green
jobs in Hawaii, while sequestering carbon and other greenhouse gases to help
reach the State's climate target.

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SECTION 2.
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(a)
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There is established a
plant-based building materials working group to study how best to grow the
appropriate plants for the development of plant-based building materials in
Hawaii and provide green agricultural jobs while sequestering carbon and other
greenhouse gases to help achieve the State's climate target.

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(b)
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The working group shall consist of the following:

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(1)
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The
dean and director of the university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical
agriculture and human resources or their designee, who shall serve as
chairperson;

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(2)
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Four
individuals who have expertise in growing or producing plant-based building
materials, to be invited by the chairperson;

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(3)
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The
director of the university of Hawaii at Hilo college of agriculture, forestry,
and natural resource management, or their designee;

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(4)
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The
chairperson of the board of agriculture, or their designee;

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(5)
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The
coordinator of the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission;

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(6)
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An
expert in building materials, who the chairperson shall invite in consultation
with the General Contractors Association of Hawaii; and

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(7)
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Additional
members with appropriate specialized expertise, as recommended by the members
of the working group, to be invited at the discretion of the chairperson.

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(c)
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Members of the working group shall serve without compensation, but shall
be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred, including travel expenses.
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No member of the working group shall be made
subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's
participation as a member of the working group.

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

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(e)
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The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2027.

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SECTION 3.
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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 2025-2026 and the same sum or
so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
plant-based building materials working group to study the development of a
plant-based building materials industry in the State.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the
purposes of this Act.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

UH;
Plant-Based Building Materials Working Group; Report; Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates
funds to the University of Hawaii for the establishment and administration of
the Plant-Based Building Materials Working Group to study how best to develop
the plant-based building materials industry in the State.
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Requires a report 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.