STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1378

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 33

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.R. No. 33 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENT OF AN OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to convene a working group to evaluate the establishment and administrative placement of an Office of Resilience and Recovery.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Recovery and Resilience Unit of the Office of the Governor, Hawaiʻi Climate Advisory Team, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and Climate Protectors Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that in its January 2025 Policy Recommendations on Climate Disaster Resilience, Recovery and Funding, the Hawaii Climate Advisory Team recommended that a permanent Hawaii Resilience Office be established to provide leadership and coordination to improve the State's resilience and preparedness for disasters. However, the Hawaii Climate Advisory Team did not make a specific recommendation regarding the placement of the Hawaii Resilience Office. Accordingly, this measure requests the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to convene a working group to evaluate the establishment of an Office of Resilience and Recovery which will be responsible for resilience planning and implementation in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 33 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair