STAND. COM. REP. NO. 269-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2151

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. 2151 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Recognize hempcrete, also known as hemp-lime, as an allowable non-structural building material under state law;

(2) Clarify that no state or county building code shall prohibit the use of hempcrete; and

(3) Authorize state and county building officials to approve hempcrete construction that meets applicable safety and performance standards.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from American Institute of Architects, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; 350Hawaii.org; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that hempcrete was recently included in the 2024 International Residential Code as an appropriate non-structural material for wall infill. This inclusion is an important milestone in mainstream code recognition of hempcrete construction and sets a model standard for jurisdictions across the United States, including Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that this measure aligns with Hawaii's broader goals of sustainability, housing innovation, and resilience and would help integrate a proven, low-carbon building material into everyday construction practice.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the proposed section 107-   (a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, which would have explicitly recognized hempcrete, also known as hemp-lime, as an allowable non-structural building material in the State, as its intent appears to be accomplished by the remaining provisions of this measure;

(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 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. 2151, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2151, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair