A Hawaii Senate committee voted April 11, 2025, to pass House Concurrent Resolution 69 (HD1) with amendments directing the State Fire Marshal to convene a vegetation management working group to study vegetation‑management responsibilities, wildfire risk mitigation and minimum qualifications for line‑clearance and tree‑trimming work near utility facilities.

Why it matters: The resolution asks a working group to clarify who is responsible for clearing vegetation near utilities and to recommend training and safety standards for people performing line clearance near electrical infrastructure — issues regulators and utilities say can affect wildfire risk and public safety.

What happened at the hearing: Executive Director Michael Angelo of the Division of Consumer Advocacy described recent local incidents of vegetation contacting utility lines and sparking fires to underscore the hazards and the need for clearer roles and regulations. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) filed testimony in support. Janine Suki of Hawaiian Telcom asked the committee to limit certain vegetation obligations to electric utilities and proposed specific amendments; Hawaiian Electric’s Wendy Oda said the utility supports the resolution and was available for questions. Henry Curtis of Life of the Land raised a due‑process concern tied to an ongoing PUC proceeding and suggested including an intervenor from PUC Docket 2025‑0156 in the working group.

Committee action: The committee adopted amendments to add the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Education (superintendent or designees) to the working group and accepted Charter Communications’ suggested amendments; the committee also added DLNR and the Board of Education to the transmittal list. The recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted by recorded committee vote.

Votes and formal outcome: Chair recommendation—pass with amendments—was adopted. Recorded yes votes during the committee roll call included Senator Glenn Wakai (chair voting aye), Senator Fukunaga, Senator Rose and Senator Leckhardt. The measure was advanced for transmittal to the named agencies.

What’s next: The State Fire Marshal is asked to convene the group and report back as specified in the resolution. Any regulatory changes or enforcement actions would require subsequent rulemaking or statutory changes as appropriate.

Ending: The committee’s amendments seek to broaden agency representation and incorporate telecommunications’ requested language while preserving the working group’s public‑safety focus.