Bill > SB1375

This bill establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program to help single-family homeowners retrofit their homes to better withstand wind damage. The program will provide grants to offset the cost of home improvements that meet specific resilience standards, such as the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED Roof, Silver, or Gold certifications. Homeowners must meet several eligibility requirements, including having wind and flood insurance (if applicable), obtaining bids from certified contractors, and completing all necessary improvements within twelve months. The program will be administered by the insurance commissioner within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, who can delegate responsibilities to a third party with expertise in residential resilience. Funding will come from a special program fund that can receive federal grants, state appropriations, and other funding sources. The bill appropriates $10 million from general revenues to the program's special fund and an additional $1.5 million to hire seven full-time employees to administer the program. Priority will be given to applicants seeking to retrofit their primary residence, and applicants' household income cannot exceed 140% of the area median income. The program aims to improve residential wind resistance, promote innovative resilience strategies, and support the construction industry's understanding of modern resilience technologies.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1375&year=2026