STAND. COM. REP. NO. 80

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1383

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1383 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the laws concerning the Office of the State Fire Marshal to best effectuate the recommendations of the "Phase 3" Forward-Looking Report by the Fire Safety Research Institute on the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of Defense, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Insurers Council, and Kamehameha Schools.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that currently, the State Fire Council is administratively attached to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. However, the evolving nature of fire-related emergencies, including wildfires and other large-scale incidents, necessitates a more integrated approach with the State's emergency management and response infrastructure. The Department of Defense, which encompasses the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, is better positioned to provide the necessary support and coordination for statewide fire prevention and response efforts.

Your Committees further find that this measure, by transferring the State Fire Marshal and State Fire Council to the Department of Defense, represents a strategic enhancement of the State's fire protection and emergency response capabilities. By aligning these entities with the State's primary emergency management agency, a more coordinated, efficient, and effective approach to safeguarding local communities from fire-related hazards is ensured.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Office of the State Fire Marshal may explore additional opportunities to reduce wildfire risk, including engaging with the Insurance Commissioner regarding insurance policy coverage provisions, underwriting standards, insurance rates, and any other insurance related topic relevant to enhancing the protection of property from wildfires at a reasonable cost; and

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

Your Committees note that the "Phase 3" Forward-Looking Report can be found on the Department of the Fire Safety Research Institute's website.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1383, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1383, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology,

________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair

________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair