Bill > SB698

This bill addresses hurricane preparedness and building safety in Hawaii by requiring new single-family homes and apartment buildings to be constructed with enhanced hurricane resistance based on their geographical wind levels. Specifically, buildings located in areas with wind speeds up to 130 miles per hour must be built to withstand at least a category three hurricane and include a residential safe room with an attached bathroom, while buildings in areas with wind speeds of 140 miles per hour or higher must be built to withstand at least a category five hurricane with the same safe room requirements. The legislation is motivated by climate change predictions of increased hurricane frequency and severity in the Pacific, Hawaii's aging infrastructure, and limited current shelter options. The bill defines key terms like "apartment building" and references the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and it will take effect on January 1, 2026. The law also prevents counties from adopting building codes that conflict with these new hurricane protection standards, ensuring a uniform approach to protecting residential structures across the state.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=698&year=2025