SB 161 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO COUNTY PERMITTING AND INSPECTION.

Summary

Allows state projects to be exempt from county building permit requirements under certain conditions. Requires all exempted state projects to be included in a report that is regularly made available to the public. Allows state agencies that undertake projects to be dedicated to a county to prepare programmatic or project-specific agreements that establish requirements and standards for review and acceptance if the agency wants the project to be exempted. Allows state agencies that want to be exempted from county permitting processes to establish a cooperative working group. Requires cooperative working groups to submit an interim report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2026. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB161 → SB161_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision expands the exemption for state projects from county building permits by adding a specific prohibition on projects located in special flood hazard areas. It replaces the previous blanket prohibition on state agencies applying for permits with a new requirement to publicly report all exempted projects. Additionally, the bill introduces a mechanism for state agencies to negotiate specific agreements with counties for dedicated projects and establishes a new cooperative working group to address collective infrastructure needs.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by adding a flood hazard exclusion to the exemption criteria, while simultaneously broadening the administrative scope by requiring public transparency reports and creating a new interagency working group.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a condition that exempts state projects from county permits only if they are not located in special flood hazard areas identified on FEMA maps.

REQUIREMENT

Requires all projects exempted under the new section to be included in a public report, such as a board report or environmental exemption list.

Replaced the absolute prohibition on state agencies applying for permits with a flexible framework allowing agencies to prepare programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties for dedicated projects.

Establishes a new cooperative working group between state agencies and counties to identify collective needs and consider actions like creating a state development agency.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from 'upon approval' to a fixed date of May 13, 2040.

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

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from EIG/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 220) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, San Buenaventura.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to EIG/GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor