Bill > HB358

This bill addresses Hawaii's increasing vulnerability to powerful hurricanes by mandating that all public buildings, including public school buildings constructed after January 1, 2026, be designed to withstand category five hurricanes and serve as emergency shelters. The legislation is driven by findings that climate change is causing warmer seas, which are expanding hurricane spawning areas and increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, with super category five hurricanes potentially occurring annually by 2080. The bill amends existing state building code statutes to require that new public buildings not only be energy and water efficient, but also capable of providing robust hurricane protection. The legislature acknowledges the current lack of adequate hurricane shelters in Hawaii, noting that existing shelters are insufficient to protect residents during major storms, and that most wooden homes would be damaged or destroyed even in a category one hurricane. By mandating hurricane-resistant design for all new public buildings, the bill aims to ensure safer infrastructure and provide more comprehensive emergency shelter options for Hawaii's residents during potential future extreme weather events.

Labor and Employment, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=358&year=2026