HR62 HD1

WHEREAS, on August 8, 2023, catastrophic wildfires swept through various communities on the island of Maui; and

WHEREAS, the wildfires significantly impacted human life and the health, community housing, education, economy, and environment of Maui residents; and

WHEREAS, the presence of grass, trees, and other vegetation adjacent to or under electric utility lines is a significant fire risk; and

WHEREAS, in response to the wildfires, in 2023 the House of Representatives established six interim working groups, including the Wildfire Prevention Working Group, which were charged with evaluating specific topics related to the Lahaina wildfire and making recommendations for specific legislative action; and

WHEREAS, the Wildfire Prevention Working Group found that people are the primary drivers of wildfires in Hawaii, as ninety-nine percent of wildfires are caused by human ignitions; and

WHEREAS, the Wildfire Prevention Working Group also found that guinea grass, fountain grass, molasses grass, and buffelgrass can form continuous fuel beds, ignite easily, attain extremely high fine fuel loads, and grow back more vigorously in the post-fire environment than the majority of native vegetation; and

WHEREAS, utility companies have miles of utility lines installed throughout the State on public and private lands, including within the public rights of way and mountainous areas of the State; and

WHEREAS, a significant portion of these public lands is covered with unmanaged grasses, trees, and other vegetation that may pose a significant wildfire risk; and

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that the Tree Industry average annual fatal-incident rate is thirty (30) times greater than the All-Industry average annual fatal-incident rate; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that other state jurisdictions have recognized the additional hazard presented to individuals performing line clearance tree trimming at or near electric utility facilities and have adopted state law requiring minimum safety standards, training and qualifications for individuals performing such work; and

WHEREAS, additional study into appropriate vegetation management will enable the State to develop appropriate policies, regulations, and guidance for the parties responsible for the management of vegetation on public and private lands to mitigate wildfire risk and establish minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications for individuals performing line clearance tree trimming at or near electric utility facilities; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Office of the State Fire Marshal is requested to convene a Vegetation Management Working Group (Working Group) to study, evaluate, and make recommendations for regulations that define property owner obligations for vegetation management on public and private property to mitigate wildfire risk , as well as minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications for individuals performing line clearance tree trimming at or near electric utility facilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in its review of vegetation management, the Working Group is requested to consider the following:

(1) Wildfire risk mitigation actions being proposed as part of the Hawaiian Electric Company's Climate Adaptation Transmission and Distribution and Resilience Program and Wildfire Safety Strategy filed with the Public Utilities Commission as Docket No. 2022-0135 and Docket No. 2025-0156, respectively; and

(2) The hazard mitigation plans of electric utilities, including the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, filed with the Public Utilities Commission as part of a non-docketed proceeding under Case No. 2023-04661 in response to Public Utilities Commission Order No. 40396; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to include the following members:

(1) The State Fire Marshal, who is requested to serve as the chairperson of the Working Group;

(2) The Director of Transportation, or the Director's designee;

(3) The Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, or the Chairperson's designee;

(4) A representative of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Consumer Advocacy with experience in matters related to regulated public utilities, to be appointed by the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs;

(5) A representative of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council;

(6) A member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(7) A member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(8) The mayor of each county, or the mayor's designee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to invite the following individuals to be members of the Working Group:

(1) A representative of a cooperative electric utility;

(2) A representative of an investor-owned electric utility;

(3) A representative of a telecommunications carrier;

(4) A representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1260; and

(5) A landowner that owns more than one thousand acres of land in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department the Office of the State Fire Marshal is administratively attached to, is requested to provide administrative support to the Working Group, including drafting of the report; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to dissolve on June 30, 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Department the Office of the State Fire Marshall is administratively attached to; Director of Transportation; Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, who is requested to transmit copies of this Concurrent Resolution to all regulated telecommunications carriers; Mayors of the Counties of Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii and Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; and President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 1260.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	62
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII