Committees advance wildfire funding, Lahaina access road and emergency centers; amend infrastructure and veterans measures

The House Committees on Public Safety and on Water & Land met March 19 in Conference Room 411 and passed or advanced a set of measures addressing wildfire prevention, disaster recovery access, emergency readiness centers, veterans’ high‑school diplomas and amendments to criminal damage law.

The most substantive debate centered on Senate Bill 223 (fire prevention), where the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) urged a combination of equipment purchases, operating funds and community grants and recommended that code changes be handled by the Office of the State Fire Marshal rather than fixed in statute. Michael Walker, wildland fire protection forester for DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, told the committees that the division views a new community grant program “as a promising program to protect communities, and watersheds,” and outlined this year’s allocations: a $1,500,000 seed grant program for shovel‑ready community projects; $10,000,000 requested to replace firefighting equipment (brush trucks, water tenders, bulldozers and other heavy equipment); $7,450,000 in operating funds; $1,500,000 to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization for prevention outreach and fuels work; and $1,400,000 intended to fund 22 positions that were previously vetoed then funded from the major disaster fund.

Committee members accepted DLNR’s recommendation to make part of the bill permissive rather than mandatory: the amended HD1 language directs that DLNR “may” perform fuel‑reduction work on lands not set aside to the department when staffing and funding allow, rather than imposing a statutory duty. The committees also moved language allowing the State Fire Council (and ultimately the Office of the State Fire Marshal through that council) to adopt or amend a wildland‑urban interface section of the state fire code and to include easement holders among those responsible for vegetation management in affected areas. The chair noted a committee report appropriation request of roughly $10,000,000 for community fuels‑reduction projects. SB223 SD2 passed the committees with the chair’s recommended amendments.

On Senate Bill 414 (restoring access to disaster‑affected areas), Dean Minakami of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation updated members that the Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) will pursue acquisition or condemnation of parcels needed for a new access road in Lahaina and intends to seek funding from the major disaster fund. The committees amended the draft to reference DOT rather than HHFDC and passed SB414 SD2 HD1 with those technical changes.

Senate Bill 13 79 (establishing community readiness center programs, administered by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency) was advanced with amendments that add county and advisory representation to help develop selection criteria and identify sites capable of withstanding natural disasters. The committee report records a proposal for $10,800,000 for initial design of four sites and an additional $1,200,000 for contract support; the chair said funding mechanism details will be resolved in the Finance Committee. The bill passed out of committee with some members voting with reservations about county involvement and funding details.

Senate Bill 371 (amending criminal property‑damage provisions for critical infrastructure facilities) was amended to remove reckless or negligent mens rea language and to require intentional conduct; the committee retained the existing $20,000 damage threshold language and passed the measure with amendments.

Two measures with brief testimony were also advanced: Senate Bill 13 81 (relating to the Hawaii National Guard), with Department of Defense testimony in support, and Senate Bill 422 (relating to high‑school diplomas for veterans), with Department of Education testimony in support. Both were passed as recommended by the chair.

Votes at a glance

- SB223 SD2 — Fire prevention: Passed with amendments (HD1). Chair moved to allow DLNR permissive authority to perform fuel reduction on non‑set‑aside lands, to task the State Fire Council/State Fire Marshal with wildland‑urban interface code adoption, and to include easement holders in vegetation requirements; committee report requests ~ $10,000,000 for community fuel reduction grants. Vote: adopted (chair’s recommendation).

- SB414 SD2 HD1 — Restoring access to disaster‑affected areas (Lahaina access road): Passed with amendment to specify DOT as the acquiring agency; appropriation left blank in draft, committee noted DOT will pursue major disaster‑fund dollars. Vote: adopted.

- SB13 79 SD2 — Community readiness centers (Hawaii Emergency Management Agency): Passed with amendments to add advisory and county input; committee report proposes $10,800,000 for initial design of four sites plus $1,200,000 contract support; funding mechanism deferred to Finance. Vote: adopted (some members with reservations).

- SB371 SD2 — Property damage to critical infrastructure facilities: Passed with amendment to require intentional conduct rather than reckless or negligent mens rea; retained $20,000 threshold. Vote: adopted.

- SB13 81 SD1 — Hawaii National Guard housekeeping changes: Passed as recommended. Vote: adopted.

- SB422 — High‑school diplomas for veterans: Passed as recommended. Vote: adopted.

What happened next

The committees closed their decision‑making session and noted that amended measures and appropriation requests will appear in committee reports and move to subsequent committees (Finance, Conference or Judiciary) as required for further drafting, funding decisions and final action. The chairs scheduled follow‑up work on technical edits and conference language where needed.

Sources and attributable quotes in this article come from witnesses and committee members during the March 19, 2025 decision‑making session of the House Committees on Public Safety and on Water & Land. Michael Walker is quoted from his oral testimony to the committees about DLNR funding and programs.