STAND. COM. REP. NO. 417-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2721

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2721 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Fireshed Partnership Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Maui Fire Department; Honolulu Fire Department; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the Fireshed Partnership Program is modeled after the Watershed Partnerships, which have united multiple landowners and expanded the State's capacity to tackle watershed and native ecosystem protection. The Fireshed Partnership Program will enhance fire fuel source mitigation by allowing for broader planning and more cohesive fire fuel reduction projects across landowner boundaries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2721, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2721, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair