STAND. COM. REP. NO. 267-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1964

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1964 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; American Institute of Architects, Hawaiʻi State Council; and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that this measure implements recommendations of the Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) Task Force, which was established by Act 133, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025. Your Committee further finds that professional development and specialized training for permitting staff, such as plan reviewers and inspectors, are essential for accelerating the permitting process statewide. By ensuring that permitting staff are aligned on the latest building codes, digital tools, and best practices, the interpretation errors and administrative bottlenecks that currently delay vital projects can be significantly reduced.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(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.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating $25,000 for the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1964, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1964, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair