HB 1725 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO BUILDING CODES.

Summary

Part I: Fixes the applicable building codes, standards, and county amendments for the life of a building permit, subject to certain exceptions and rules. Part II: Specifies the applicability of the International Residential Code. Authorizes a county to adopt amendments to the Hawaii state building code, under certain circumstances, and repeals the counties' existing authority to amend or adopt the buildings code without council approval. Changes the adoption of the Hawaii state building code from a two-year cycle to a six-year cycle. Part III: Appropriates funds for the State Building Code Council for staffing and necessary consultant services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1725_HD1 → HB1725_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision clarifies that building codes are fixed based on when a county issues an authorization to proceed with construction, rather than when a permit application is accepted. It also updates the full name of the energy standard referenced and changes the effective date of the bill from HD1 to HD2.

Scope change

The scope of code applicability was narrowed to trigger only upon the issuance of an authorization to proceed, removing the previous trigger of 'application acceptance.' Additionally, the definition of 'complete building permit application' was removed from the text, implying the focus is now solely on the authorization date.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the trigger for fixing building codes from 'application acceptance' to 'issuance of an authorization to proceed with construction,' reducing the time window for code changes.

DEFINITION

Removed the explicit definition of 'complete building permit application' from the statute text.

TECHNICAL

Updated the full name of the energy standard from 'ASHRAE Standard 90.1' to 'American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.1'.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill header and effective date notation from 'H.D. 1' to 'H.D. 2'.

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

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to EIG/GVO, WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 272).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Cochran, Hartsfield, Iwamoto, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Perruso voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Poepoe voting no (1) and Representative(s) Pierick excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Perruso, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSG/WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 333-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Poepoe; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSG/WAL, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

12 primary · 1 co-sponsor