Hawaii House Bill HB1129

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 1/23/25

Caption

Making An Emergency Appropriation To The Department Of Health For Construction Defect Remediation At The Hawaii State Hospital.

Summary

HB1129 makes an emergency appropriation to the Hawaii Department of Health for construction defect remediation at the Hale Ho`ola Building at Hawaii State Hospital. The bill cites persistent problems discovered after the building’s acceptance, including water intrusion, plumbing leaks, mold growth, and other latent defects attributed to design and construction issues. It also notes ongoing investigations into the root causes and efforts by the Department of Accounting and General Services to hold the contractor accountable. The measure appropriates $8,160,000 in general funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 to cover remediation work, including legal fees and costs associated with special deputy attorneys general. The appropriation is non-lapsing through the biennium, with any unencumbered funds lapsing on June 30, 2026. The Department of Health may, with the governor’s approval, delegate implementation to other state agencies if doing so is advantageous.

Impact

HB1129 would authorize a one-time emergency general fund appropriation and direct the Department of Health to use the money for construction defect remediation at Hawaii State Hospital’s Hale Ho`ola Building. It affects state budgeting and procurement/repair activity by providing dedicated funding for repairs and related legal expenses, while also allowing interagency delegation of project implementation with gubernatorial approval. The bill does not amend substantive health or construction statutes, but it creates a specific funding mechanism and spending authority for this facility and project.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is urgent and supportive of immediate action. The measure is framed as a governor-recommended emergency appropriation intended to address serious building problems affecting patient care and workplace safety. No committee testimony or recorded votes are provided, so there is no documented opposition or formal debate in the available materials.

Contention

The main points of concern identified in the bill are the severity of the building defects, the alleged inadequacy of prior construction and design, and the need to spend public funds on both remediation and legal costs while investigations continue. The bill also references staff grievances and an unsafe working environment, suggesting labor and workplace-safety concerns. Potential contention could center on the size of the appropriation, accountability for the contractor, and whether state agencies should bear the remediation costs, but no opposing views are included in the provided record.