STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1023-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2700

H.D. 3

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2700, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDFIRES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Hawaii Wildfire Relief Fund and Corporation to provide compensation for property damage resulting from catastrophic wildfires in the State; and

(2) Appropriate funding for one Administrator position to support the Hawaii Wildfire Relief Fund Corporation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Maui County Council; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and the Hawaii Association for Justice. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Budget and Finance; Public Utilities Commission; Tax Foundation of Hawaii; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative; Hawaiian Electric; Ulupono Initiative; and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the number of full-time equivalent Administrator positions to support the Hawaii Wildfire Relief Fund Corporation to an unspecified number.

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 H.B. No. 2700, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2700, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair