HR 62 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

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, AND MAKE 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.

This House Resolution (HR 62) requests the Office of the State Fire Marshal to form a working group to study vegetation management practices on public and private property. The group will evaluate property owner responsibilities for reducing wildfire risks, particularly near electric utility lines, and develop recommendations for minimum safety standards for tree trimming near power facilities. It specifically responds to wildfire risks identified after the 2023 Maui fires, including the role of invasive grasses and human-caused ignitions. The working group must include representatives from fire services, utilities, counties, and invasive species councils, but does not create new laws - only seeks recommendations for future policy.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

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What changed between versions

HR62 → HR62_HD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House Resolution to a formal House Bill (H.D. 1) with expanded scope to include safety standards for tree trimming near power lines, new working group members like union and large landowner representatives, and a specific timeline for reporting. This change broadens the bill's focus from just vegetation management to include worker safety and establishes clearer procedural requirements for the working group's operation and dissolution.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from general vegetation management to include specific safety standards for line clearance tree trimming, and the working group composition was broadened to include union and large landowner representatives.

SCOPE

Added requirements for establishing minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications for individuals performing line clearance tree trimming at or near electric utility facilities.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the working group to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026.

Modified the working group chairperson requirement from 'State Fire Marshal, or the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations' designee' to just 'The State Fire Marshal'.

Added a requirement for the Department the Office of the State Fire Marshal is administratively attached to to provide administrative support to the Working Group, including drafting of the report.

TIMELINE

Added a requirement for the working group to dissolve on June 30, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new working group members: a representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1260, and a landowner that owns more than one thousand acres of land in the State.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Souza voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1821), recommending adoption.

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda, Ward.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Souza voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Hussey, Muraoka, Ward excused (4).

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1676) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Morikawa, Woodson.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 22

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered

lower

7 primary · 1 co-sponsor