STAND. COM. REP. NO. 427-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2654

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2654 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUILDING CODES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that no state or county building code can prohibit the use of a substitute refrigerant allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency if the applicable equipment is listed and installed in compliance with any applicable safety standards and use conditions.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute; American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; 350Hawaii.org; and three individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Chamber of Sustainable Commerce.

Your Committees find that this measure ensures that the state and county Building Codes align with widely used safety standards and provides a clear regulatory framework for the residents and businesses of Hawaii to transition toward the use of safe alternatives to harmful refrigerants.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the State Building Code Council when it adopts, amends, or updates the codes and standards identified in section 107-25, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to establish codes and standards that are consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2654, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2654, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair