STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1425-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.C.R. No. 72

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.C.R. No. 72 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO COORDINATE AND DEVELOP A WILDFIRE INSURANCE COMPACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Insurance Commissioner to coordinate and develop a Wildfire Insurance Compact with strategic partner states that have similar wildfire risks or robust disaster management systems.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that developing a wildfire insurance compact represents a proactive step toward securing Hawaii's future amid the growing potential for the occurrence of wildfires.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the provision that requested the Insurance Commissioner to develop a Wildfire Insurance Compact that focuses primarily on risk pooling and informational technology sharing to mitigate and share the risks and costs associated with wildfires; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 72, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 72, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair