STAND. COM. REP. NO. 740

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 745

H.D. 1

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. 745, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning on the date the International Code Council 2024 suite of published codes is adopted as the Hawaii State Building Code, makes the most recent Hawaii state building codes adopted by the State Building Code Council supersede all existing county building codes and thereafter allows counties to amend the Hawaii State Building Code as it applies within their jurisdiction; and

(2) Repeals the counties' authority to adopt, amend, and update the Hawaii state building codes for their respective county building codes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Fire Department; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi YIMBY; Hawaii State Council and Legislative Advocacy Committee of the American Institute of Architects; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1260 and Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Public Works of the County of Hawai‘i; and Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that under the existing staggered system, counties must adopt and amend building codes independently, creating inconsistencies, administrative delays, and higher costs for builders and emergency responders. These inefficiencies can lead to permitting backlogs, increased construction costs, and a lack of uniform safety standards. This measure streamlines the code adoption process, which should eliminate inefficiencies.

Your Committee notes that the written testimony of the Department of Accounting and General Services was submitted at the hearing. As such, your Committee was not able to give it proper consideration prior to decision making. Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider the late testimony submitted by the Department of Accounting and General Services.

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. 745, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair