CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 70-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2753

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2753, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify that no state or county building code shall prohibit the use of a substitute refrigerant allowed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency if the applicable equipment is listed and installed in compliance with the latest safety standards; and

(2) Require the State Building Code Council to establish codes and standards that are consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons and not in conflict with federal law when it adopts, amends, or updates the Hawaii State Building Codes.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 mandates an eighty-five percent phasedown in hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants nationwide. Your Committee on Conference further finds that updates to the State Building Code are necessary to avoid marketplace disruptions as manufacturers transition to hydrofluorocarbon substitutes. This measure ensures federal compliance under the State Building Code.

Your Committee on Conference also finds that requiring the State Building Code Council, when it adopts, amends, or updates the Hawaii State Building Codes, to establish codes and standards that are consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons and not in conflict with federal law could create problems insofar as it would require the counties to apply standards which have not yet been adopted by the International Building Code. Realizing the importance of this measure and the two thousand jobs that could be lost if this measure does not pass, your Committee on Conference has chosen to delete this language from this measure despite its noble goals. Your Committee on Conference encourages the counties, who can establish codes and standards that are consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons and not in conflict with federal law, to pursue this at the county level.

Accordingly, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the State Building Code Council to establish codes and standards that are consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons and not in conflict with federal law when it adopts, amends, or updates the Hawaii State Building Codes;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2753, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2753, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Chair
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Co-Chair
____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair