STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3102

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1158

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to limit civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services with a firefighting vessel at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaiʻi Harbors Users Group, and one individual.

Your Committees find that there are privately-owned assets and vessels home ported in commercial ports across the State that are equipped with fire monitors and water cannons that could be used in fighting fires in and around waterfront facilities. However, there have been instances where private entities responsible for these assets and vessels have declined to assist county fire departments in providing firefighting services due to concerns over possible civil liability. This measure will limit the civil liability of private individuals providing essential firefighting services, encouraging these individuals to render aid in the event of a fire at a commercial port.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair