STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3627

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2498

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARE HOMES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support disaster preparedness efforts in the State's licensed care homes.

More specifically, the measure establishes and appropriates moneys for a Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to assist eligible licensed care home facilities within the Waipahu area to implement structural and operational resilience improvements.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Hawaii Insurers Council; and Sebastian's Arch, LLC.

Your Committee finds that many licensed care homes that serve vulnerable populations operate in aging facilities that are susceptible to damage from natural disasters, climate-related hazards, and prolonged power outages. Accordingly, your Committee finds that the State must act to strengthen the physical infrastructure and disaster resilience of these care homes to minimize the homes' emergency response needs and to support community stability and recovery.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair