STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3405

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 69

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 69 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the State Building Code Council.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Pacific Resource Partnership; RMA Sales; Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii, Inc.; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; and Gentry Homes, Ltd.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Auditor.

Your Committee finds that implementation of building codes in the State has become an unwieldly and inefficient process, leading to a patchwork of county-level rules that contribute to construction delays and higher housing costs. Under existing law, the State Building Code Council must adopt every iteration of the International Building Code and related codes within two years of the iteration being released. The counties then have an additional two years to make amendments to the State Building Code and adopt the new standards. However, the State and counties struggle to meet these deadlines. Consequently, builders and architects must constantly update their practices to conform to different building codes for each county. By requesting the Auditor to conduct an audit of the State Building Code Council, this measure will help identify areas for improved efficiency in developing building codes in the State.

Your Committee notes the testimony of the Office of the Auditor expressing concerns that Government Auditing Standards require the Office to be independent of the agencies, programs, and political subdivisions that it audits. To maintain that independence, the Office of the Auditor is unable to participate in program management decisions and therefore cannot assess proposed changes to the role of counties in developing and implementing the State Building Code. Your Committee further notes that another agency, such as the Department of Accounting and General Services, which oversees the State Building Code Council, or Legislature Reference Bureau may be better suited to perform the study requested by this measure. Your Committee finds that this issue raises concerns that merit further consideration and requests further examination by your Committee on Ways and Means, should it choose to deliberate on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 69 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair