STAND. COM. REP. NO. 151

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 920

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. 920 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow the counties to adopt a county building code for single-family dwellings, additional dwelling units, duplexes, and non-commercial structures that is distinct from the Hawaii State Building Code.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, Office of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, one member of the Maui County Council, County of Hawai‘i Planning Department, Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, Homeworks Construction Inc., and Building Industry Association of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, HPM Building Supply, and Climate Protectors Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that each county of the State and their building needs are distinct from one another. In some cases, the Hawaii State Building Code, which is based on a national standard, may not apply to a county's specific environment or to the building of affordable, safe, and sound single-family dwelling units. The intent of this measure is to allow counties flexibility to expedite the building of safe and reasonably priced housing for singe family residences to meet current demand.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that a county may adopt a county building code distinct from the Hawaii State Building Codes that is applicable to only those structures that have an unspecified amount of square feet of living area;

(2) Inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2026;

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that the intent of the amendments made to this measure is to increase housing production by reducing cost, promoting innovative building practices, and supporting sustainability goals. Your Committee intends for the county building codes to be limited to certain types of housing between one thousand and fifteen hundred square feet.

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. 920, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 920, 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