STAND. COM. REP. NO.  150

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 681

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 681 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE BUILDING CODES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to exempt any code with an official publication date within four years of the prior code publication date from certain adoption requirements.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from HPM Building Supply, Homeworks Construction Inc., Building Industry Association of Hawaii, NAIOP Hawaii, Complete Construction Services Corp., General Contractors Association of Hawaii, and D.R. Horton Hawaii LLC.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Climate Protectors Hawaii.

 

Your Committee finds that under existing law, the state building code goes through numerous changes regularly, causing confusion, delays, and constant added cost.  Your Committee further finds that while well intended, the existing adoption protocol for the state building code unintentionally creates confusion and uncertainty in the design and building industry as to effective dates of code editions relative to development schedules, including housing projects.  This measure will provide a balance regarding the adoption of new codes to ensure that health and safety are maintained while providing a practical approach that brings much needed clarity to the overall process.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 681, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 681, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TROY N. HASHIMOTO, Chair