Bill > HB659

This bill expands an existing Hawaii state law regarding building design to require that all new state buildings constructed on or after July 1, 2025, consider hurricane resistant criteria with the goal of providing potential shelter during hurricane events. The legislation stems from a previous Act (Act 84) from 2018 that was focused specifically on public schools, which was legally invalidated by the Hawaii Supreme Court. The bill preserves the original policy intent by broadening the hurricane resistance requirement to apply to all state buildings, not just schools. This change is part of a broader set of provisions in Hawaii's building design statutes that also include requirements for energy efficiency, energy generation potential, and using building materials that reduce carbon footprint. The bill reflects Hawaii's ongoing efforts to improve building resilience, particularly in response to potential natural disaster risks, and to create structures that can serve as potential emergency shelters during severe weather events.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=659&year=2026