Senate panels approve amended bill to create state fire marshal selection commission

On March 14, 2025, the Hawaii Senate committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and on Labor and Technology voted to pass with amendments House Bill 1064, House Draft 2, a measure to create a state fire marshal selection commission and clarify the state fire marshal’s role.

The bill implements recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute’s Phase 3 forward-looking report on the August 2023 Maui wildfires and would authorize a seven-member commission to appoint and remove the state fire marshal, receive citizen complaints about the office, and conduct annual performance reviews.

Committee members said the measure is intended to separate the selection process from the governor’s office and align future selection procedures with county-level practice. Will Kane, Senior Adviser, Office of the Governor, told the committee the governor’s office would not oppose establishing a selection commission and said, “I don't I don't I don't think that'd be a problem at all. I think it's a it's a good way to kind of…