STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1124-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2502

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2502, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE GENERATION OF WILDFIRE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAPS FOR HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to establish and implement a two-year program to develop web-GIS wildfire susceptibility and vulnerability maps for the State to determine which communities, landscapes, buildings, and infrastructure are most vulnerable to future wildfires.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaii Forest Industry Association; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Lahaina Strong; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the information provided through wildfire susceptibility and vulnerability maps would allow the prioritization of targeted risk reduction strategies in high-risk areas and assist in the development of adaptation policies that lessen the impacts of future wildfires. Your Committee further finds that these maps would also inform decisions about siting certain essential facilities, such as hospitals, schools, and fire stations, in areas that are less vulnerable to wildfires.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2502, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2502, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair