SB 11 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT NEAR UTILITY LINES.

Summary

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create and annually update a wildfire hazard map. Requires private and public property owners to trim grasses within certain proximities of public rights of way and utility lines, enforced by the State Fire Marshal as to State-owned land and the applicable county fire department as to privately owned land. Authorizes electric utility companies to enter private or public property to trim or remove hazardous vegetation. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/1/2050. (SD2)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB11_SD1 → SB11_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision shifts enforcement of wildfire vegetation rules from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the State Fire Marshal for state land and county fire departments for private land. It removes exemptions that previously allowed utility companies to ignore vegetation trimming obligations entirely and instead mandates that all trimming work be performed by qualified professionals earning prevailing wages. The changes clarify liability, ensuring utility companies are not immune from negligence claims while protecting them from liability when following safety standards.

Scope change

Enforcement authority expanded to include county fire departments for private property, and the bill now explicitly requires professional line clearance standards for all utility work.

ENFORCEMENT

Enforcement responsibility moved from the DLNR to the State Fire Marshal for state-owned land and county fire departments for privately owned land.

REQUIREMENT

Removed blanket exemptions allowing utility companies to avoid trimming vegetation; now requires all work to be done by qualified line clearance trimmers or journeymen under supervision.

FISCAL

Added a requirement that all trimming work be paid at least the prevailing wage rate for electrical utility linemen.

DEFINITION

Defined 'Line clearance tree trimmer' as an individual with specific apprenticeship completion and experience hours.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that utility companies are not considered property owners solely due to easement rights, reinforcing owner responsibility for vegetation maintenance.

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

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAL/PBS, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 63) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 26, 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 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from WTL/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 617) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, McKelvey, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/CPN, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors