Bill > SB120

This bill modifies the responsibilities of the State Building Code Council in Hawaii to address housing affordability and streamline building code adoption processes. The bill requires the council to conduct financial analyses of proposed building codes, determine which codes are specifically for public safety, and consult more extensively with building contractors, trade associations, and project developers about construction practices and cost implications. Instead of the previous process where a subcommittee of county building officials recommended state amendments, the council must now submit recommendations to county governing bodies within two years of a code's publication, accompanied by a financial analysis. The bill aims to expedite the adoption of building codes by allowing counties to proceed with code adoption if the council does not make a recommendation within the specified timeframe, which is intended to address delays in implementing uniform statewide building standards. This change is part of a broader effort to address Hawaii's housing crisis, characterized by extremely high housing costs that have made homeownership increasingly difficult for residents, with fewer than one in three households able to afford a median single-family home.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=120&year=2026