CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 190

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 223

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 223, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish an independent program relating to the prevention, control, and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves;

(2) Authorize the Administrator of Forestry and Wildlife to establish and maintain facilities for the performance of fire protection, fire prevention, pest control, and forest and range protection and enhancement activities;

(3) Allow the State Fire Council to amend the State Fire Code to require certain owners and occupants of properties and holders of easements located in hazardous fire areas to maintain effective firebreaks and to practice other fire prevention activities;

(4) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and implement the Community Fuels Reduction Project and submit reports to the Legislature; and

(5) Appropriate funds for the Community Fuels Reduction Project.

Your Committee on Conference finds that as the State's climate is predicted to become hotter and drier, it is essential to maintain effective firebreaks by removing and clearing flammable vegetation and combustible growth from areas near buildings, structures, and other premises. This measure adopts a proactive approach to fire prevention and mitigation to protect the State's communities from the devastation caused by wildfires.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish positions to support the prevention, control, and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,000,000 for each year of the fiscal biennium for the Community Fuels Reduction Project to support wildfire prevention and hazardous fuel reduction measures on state lands;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 223, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 223, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Chair
____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE Co-Chair
____________________________ RACHELE LAMOSAO Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Co-Chair
	____________________________ CHRIS LEE Co-Chair