STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1915

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 223

S.D. 2

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 223, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish an independent program relating to the prevention, control, and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves;

(2) Authorize the Administrator of Forestry and Wildlife to establish and maintain facilities for the performance of fire protection, fire prevention, pest control, and forest and range protection and enhancement activities;

(3) Allow the State Fire Council to amend the State Fire Code to require certain owners and occupants of properties and holders of easements located in hazardous fire areas to maintain effective firebreaks and to practice other fire prevention activities; and

(4) Require and appropriate funds for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and implement a Community Fuels Reduction Project to reduce hazardous wildfire fuels on state lands, particularly those adjacent to communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association; Ohana Unity Party; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Honolulu Fire Department; Life of the Land; and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 223, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair