STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2971

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2671

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 S.B. No. 2671, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the mayor of each county to implement a pilot program within that county to improve the county's construction permitting process.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the mayor of each county to implement a pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing within that county through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition;

(2) Authorizes increased pay for certain permitting positions and requires county personnel departments to prioritize the hiring of permitting positions, as part of the pilot program;

(3) Requires participating mayors to establish goals for the pilot program; and

(4) Requires quarterly reports to county councils on the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Housing Hawaii's Future, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Building Owners and Managers Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, City and County of Honolulu Department of Human Resources, and City and County of Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Services.

Your Committee finds that contractors often face lengthy county permitting processes that increase costs and cause delays for housing development in Hawaii. Your Committee believes that the authorizations provided by this measure to increase compensation and prioritize recruitment will assist counties in recruiting and retaining the personnel needed to timely review construction plans and to promptly issue building permits.

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 S.B. No. 2671, 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