STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1631-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2908

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2908, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify the powers of the Governor and mayors to extend or terminate a state of emergency;

(2) Clarify when proclamations take effect;

(3) Prohibit residential rent increases in areas subject to emergency declarations and severe weather warnings; and

(4) Shorten and clarify the duration of price control periods and the prohibition against residential-tenancy terminations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Lāhainā Strong; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; UNITE HERE Local 5; Jewish Voice for Peace - Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee finds that individuals facing unforeseen disasters are particularly vulnerable to predatory practices, such as price gouging, that are intended to maximize profits during an emergency. This measure would further protect Hawaii residents from predatory rent increases during and after emergency situations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the duration of the prohibition on rent increases to twenty-four hours after a severe weather warning is canceled or seventy-two hours after the effective date and time of a declaration of a state of emergency, unless the prohibition is otherwise continued; 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2908, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2908, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair