SB 223 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION.

Summary

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish an independent program relating to the prevention, control, and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves. Authorizes the Administrator of Forestry and Wildlife to establish and maintain facilities for the performance of fire protection, fire prevention, pest control, and forest and range protection and enhancement activities. Allows the State Fire Council to amend the State Fire Code to require certain owners and occupants of properties and holders of easements located in hazardous fire areas to maintain effective firebreaks and to practice other fire prevention activities. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and implement the Community Fuels Reduction Project. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jul 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Jul 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB223_SD1 → SB223_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to add new statutory provisions establishing an independent wildland fire prevention program under the Department of Land and Natural Resources, while reorganizing the remaining sections into a clearer four-part structure. The substantive policy content regarding firebreak requirements and community fuels reduction remains largely the same, but the bill now includes specific amendments to Hawaii Revised Statutes sections 185-1.5 and 185-3 to formalize the department's fire management authority.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include direct amendments to existing state statutes (HRS 185-1.5 and 185-3), establishing the Department of Land and Natural Resources' independent program for wildland fire prevention within forest reserves, public hunting areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and natural area reserves.

DEFINITION

Added specific statutory amendments to HRS 185-1.5 and 185-3 to formally establish the Department of Land and Natural Resources' independent program for wildland fire prevention and control.

STRUCTURE

Reorganized the bill into four distinct parts with clearer section numbering and formatting, separating appropriations and effective dates into dedicated sections.

FISCAL

Added specific language in Section 3 regarding the establishment of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions funded by the appropriations.

TIMELINE

Modified effective date provisions to clarify that Parts I and III take effect on July 1, 2025, while other sections take effect upon approval.

TECHNICAL

Added standard statutory markup language in Sections 9 and 10 explaining how statutory material is identified and the overall effective date provisions.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 190) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 190).

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Lamosao, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, McKelvey.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-25-25 5:30PM in conference room 411.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 4:00PM in Conference Room 411.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 9:45AM in conference room 229.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 10:15AM; Conference Room 229.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 229.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 459).

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 28, 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, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from PBS/WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1432) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Lamosao, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to PBS/WAL, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 109) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:25AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from WTL/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 378) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Rhoads.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Chang, McKelvey, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/PSM, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 4 co-sponsors