STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1389-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.R. No. 127

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.R. No. 127 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP TO STUDY, EVALUATE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING REGULATIONS THAT DEFINE PROPERTY OWNER OBLIGATIONS TO PERFORM VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a Vegetation Management Working Group to study, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding regulations that define property owner obligations to perform vegetation management on public and private property for purposes of wildfire risk mitigation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiian Electric. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that vegetation management, including the creation of firebreaks and the removal of buildup of flammable vegetation, is essential for the mitigation of wildfire risks and the promotion of safer conditions for the State's communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by requesting the Vegetation Management Working Group, in its review of vegetation management, to consider the wildfire mitigation actions that are being proposed as part of the Hawaiian Electric Company's Climate Adaptation Transmission and Distribution Resilience Program in Docket No. 2022-0135 and the electric utilities' (including Kauai Island Utility Cooperative) hazard mitigation plans to be filed with the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) over the next few months, in response to Commission Order No. 40396. These plans will be filed as part of a non-docketed proceeding under Case No. 2023-04661.

Your Committee notes the Department of Land and Natural Resources' concern that establishing a working group without appropriating funds for the administrative support needs of the group would place an unfunded mandate on the Department that would consume substantial time and resources.

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.R. No. 127, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 127, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair