STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1331-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2908

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2908, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit residential rent increases in affected areas for an unspecified period after a severe storm warning or issuance of an emergency proclamation.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency; UNITE HERE Local 5; Lāhainā Strong; and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that this measure seeks to protect individuals affected by natural disasters and emergencies from predatory increases in the rents for their homes.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the powers of the Governor and mayors to extend or terminate a state of emergency or local state of emergency;

(2) Allowing the prohibition against any increase in the selling price of any commodity, whether at the retail or wholesale level, in the area that is the subject of the proclamation or the severe weather warning to be restricted to particular commodities in the proclamation;

(3) Providing that the prohibitions against increasing the prices of commodities and terminating residential tenancies expire seventy-two, rather than ninety-six, hours after the effective date and time of the declaration, except under certain circumstances;

(4) Clarifying that agencies other than the National Weather Service issue and cancel severe weather warnings;

(5) Changing its effective date to January 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Consumer Protection & Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2908, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2908, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair