SB 11 Hawaii Senate · 2025 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 Mar 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB11_SD1 → SB11_SD2 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill version (SD2) significantly restructures the vegetation management program by removing the requirement for property owners to trim grasses in high-risk areas, instead focusing on authorizing utility companies to enter private property to trim hazardous vegetation. It also clarifies utility company obligations and adds specific definitions for key terms.

Scope change

The bill shifts from a property owner responsibility model to a utility company enforcement model, allowing utilities to enter private property to remove vegetation that poses fire risks.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for property owners to trim grasses within 25 feet of public rights of way and 10 feet of utility lines in high-risk areas.

Added requirements for utility companies to provide notice before entering private property and report actions to the public utilities commission.

Added requirements that all vegetation management work be performed by qualified personnel following specific safety standards.

ELIGIBILITY

Added authority for utility companies to enter private property to trim or remove hazardous vegetation when it poses a risk to utility lines.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'Department', 'Hazardous vegetation', 'Line clearance tree trimmer', and 'Utility company'.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed enforcement from property owner abatement notices to utility company entry rights with notice requirements.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of June 1, 2050.

FISCAL

Added appropriation language for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

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

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