SR 30 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL, BUILDING DEPARTMENTS OF EACH COUNTY, MAYORS OF EACH COUNTY, AND CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING COMMITTEES ON HOUSING TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR ADOPTING UPDATED BUILDING CODES.

This Senate Resolution (SR 30) requests multiple state and local entities - including the Governor, State Building Code Council, county building departments, mayors, and housing committee chairs - to develop a strategy for updating Hawaii’s building codes. It addresses current confusion caused by recent proclamations that suspended the State Building Code Council and allowed counties to bypass the 2021 codes, leaving contractors with unclear requirements. The resolution aims to create a unified approach that aligns codes with national standards, clarifies construction rules, and ensures public safety through stakeholder engagement. It does not create new laws but seeks a coordinated plan to resolve existing code fragmentation.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SR30 → SR30_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten from a request to the International Code Council to slow down code updates into a directive for state and local officials to create a comprehensive strategy for adopting updated building codes. The focus shifted from criticizing the International Code Council's timeline to addressing practical issues like natural disaster resilience, compliance with national standards, and clarifying directives for contractors following recent gubernatorial proclamations.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from urging an external organization (International Code Council) to modify its processes, to directing internal state and local government entities (Office of the Governor, State Building Code Council, county building departments, mayors, and legislative committee chairs) to develop a statewide adoption strategy.

SCOPE

Changed the primary addressee from the International Code Council to state and local government officials responsible for building code implementation.

REQUIREMENT

Added new WHEREAS clauses addressing natural disaster resilience, the impact of Governor Josh Green's 2023 housing proclamations, and the need to amend codes to comply with national standards.

Replaced the original request to extend timelines between code updates and adoption with a directive to develop a comprehensive strategy for statewide adoption of updated building codes.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated the list of recipients for certified copies of the resolution to reflect the new addressees, including the Governor and county officials rather than the International Code Council and other industry associations.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1550) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 24, 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, Fukunaga; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Wakai ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) Rhoads, DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Referred to PSM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors