STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
2025
MAR 2 8
RE: H.R. No. 62
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.R.
No. 62 entitled:
“HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE
MARSHAL TO CONVENE A VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP TO
STUDY, EVALUATE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REGULATIONS
THAT DEFINE PROPERTY OWNER OBLIGATIONS FOR VEGETATION
MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY TO MITIGATE
WILDFIRE RISK,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of the
State Fire Marshal to convene a Vegetation Management Working
Group to study, evaluate, and make recommendations for regulations
that define property owner obligations for vegetation management
on public and private property to mitigate wildfire risk.
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Public
Utilities Commission, the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers Local 1260, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, and the
Hawaii Forest Industry Association provided testimony in support
of this resolution. Your committee received comments from the
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on this measure. One
individual provided testimony is support.
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 STAND. COM.
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REP. NO. /
Your Committee believes that wildfire risks can be mitigated
with regulations recommended from the State Fire Marshal’s
Vegetation Management Working Group that define public and private
property owner obligations, but finds that recommendations are
also needed to define a line clearance tree trimmer and establish
minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications for
individuals performing line clearance tree trimming at or near
electric utility facilities to prevent hazards. Your committee
further finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial
Relations is not the appropriate department to be administratively
attached to the Office of State Fire Marshal’s Vegetation
Management Working Group because DLIR lacks the expertise and also
because the Legislature is currently deliberating the Office of
the State Fire Marshal’s permanent, executive placement.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Amending its title in accordance with its amended
purpose; and
(2) Requesting the Office of State Marshal and the State
Fire Council to undertake the recommendations that
define a line clearance tree trimmer and establish
minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications
for individuals performing line clearance tree trimming
at or near electric utility facilities.
(3) Removing “DLIR”, “Department of Labor and Industrial
Relations”, or “Director of Labor and Industrial
Relations”, and where applicable, adding the language,
“whichever department the Office of the State Fire
Marshal is administratively attached to”.
Your committee further notes the next committee should
consider Kamehameha School’s oral testimony that pointed out
vegetation management is the landowner’s and easement holder’s
responsibility.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 62, as
amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your
Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 62,
J-I.D. 1.
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
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Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Public Safety,
DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair
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 State of Hawaii
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House of Representatives
The Thirty-third Legislature ~ ~I
Record of Votes of the Committee on Public Safety
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
j-~ (o~ P~’9, FIr~J 3JZ~1oiS
D The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: Q Pass, unamended (as is) ~4ass, with amendments (HD) 0 Hold
C Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
PBS Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. BELATTI, Della Au (C)
2. IWAMOTO, Kim Coco (VC) 7
3. HASHEM, Mark J.
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4. ICHIYAMA, Linda
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V
5. LAMOSAO, Rachele F.
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6. MORIKAWA, Dee V
7.
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POEPOE, Mahina V
8. WOODSON, Justin H.
—
9. SHIMIZU, Garner M. V
10. SOUZA, Kanani V
TOTAL(10) / (~ 0 b
The recommendation is: L~’ Adopted LI Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature: I’QLU ~ ~
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO