STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1888-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 123

S.D. 1

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 S.C.R. No. 123, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK AND THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AS IT RELATES TO LANDOWNERS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a working group to make recommendations on solutions to reduce wildfire risk and the feasibility of establishing a vegetation management program as it relates to landowners and public utilities.

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

Your Committee finds that a significant portion of public and private lands in Hawaii are covered in unmanaged grasses, trees, and other vegetation, such as guinea grass, fountain grass, molasses grass, and buffelgrass, which can form continuous fuel beds, ignite easily, attain extremely high fine fuel loads, and are capable of growing back more vigorously in the post-fire environment than the majority of native vegetation. As a result, they pose an extraordinary wildfire risk. Your Committee further finds that vegetation management is essential for the mitigation of wildfire risks and the promotion of safer conditions for the State's communities and environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 S.C.R. No. 123, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 123, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair