STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1092

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1159

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1159, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL HARBORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require masters or persons in charge of vessels to follow an order by a harbor master to evacuate a commercial harbor during emergencies;

(2) Establish higher penalties for noncompliance with evacuation orders; and

(3) Require fines collected for violations to be paid into the Harbor Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Holo Holo Charters, Inc.; Hawaii Longline Association; Ocean Tourism Coalition; Captain Andy's Sailing Inc.; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Matson Navigation Company, Inc.

Your Committee finds that the State is susceptible to various hazards, including hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions and it is crucial to have a coordinated, swift response to protect lives, safeguard property, and minimize damage to the State's harbors. Your Committee believes that having an enforceable evacuation mechanism will greatly improve the State's ability to respond to emergencies and avoid chaos in commercial harbor zones.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1159, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1159, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair