Bill > HB353

This bill addresses hurricane preparedness in Hawaii by creating a grant program for low-income residents and condominium associations to fortify residential properties against increasingly severe hurricane risks. The legislation is motivated by climate change research showing that warming ocean temperatures are creating more frequent and intense hurricanes in the Pacific, with potential Category 5 hurricanes potentially occurring annually by 2080. The bill would appropriate funds to the Office of the Governor, working with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to provide grants ranging from $10,000 for condominiums to $50,000 for houses to residents earning 80% or less of the area median income. Eligibility is limited to those who have not already applied for other hurricane fortification funding, and the grants are specifically intended to help low-income homeowners and condominium owners strengthen their properties with features like hurricane-resistant windows and doors capable of withstanding winds up to 200 miles per hour. The legislature believes this proactive approach will not only protect vulnerable residents but also potentially save the government significant costs in post-hurricane recovery and help mitigate the state's ongoing housing crisis by preventing widespread housing displacement during major storms.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=353&year=2026