Requesting The Governor, State Building Code Council, Planning Departments Of Each County, Mayors Of Each County, And Chairs Of The Senate And House Of Representatives Standing Committees On Housing To Develop A Comprehensive Strategy For Adopting Updated Building Codes.
Summary
HCR67 is a nonbinding House Concurrent Resolution that asks the Governor, the State Building Code Council, county planning and permitting departments, county mayors, and the chairs of the Legislature’s housing committees to develop a comprehensive statewide strategy for adopting updated building codes. The resolution frames the issue as one of public safety, construction clarity, and resilience in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters.
The measure explains that recent executive actions intended to speed housing production, especially on Maui, have had the unintended effect of suspending normal code-update processes and leaving counties and contractors with unclear or inconsistent directives. It calls for a strategy developed through stakeholder engagement, with attention to the feasibility of compliance, and urges that the plan include reinstating and adequately funding the State Building Code Council so it can resume its role.
Impact
Because HCR67 is a concurrent resolution, it does not change state law or amend any building code provisions by itself. Its practical effect is to formally urge coordination among state and county officials to create a path toward updated, locally appropriate building codes and to restore the State Building Code Council’s capacity to function. The resolution is aimed at the building, planning, and permitting systems that govern construction statewide, especially housing development and code enforcement.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment appears supportive and pragmatic. The resolution passed the referenced Senate committees unanimously and without amendment, suggesting broad agreement that the current code situation needs clarification and modernization. The tone of the bill is focused on safety, administrative order, and housing implementation rather than partisan conflict.
Contention
The main point of contention is the tension between speeding housing construction and maintaining a stable, updated building code framework. The resolution criticizes the effect of Governor Green’s housing-related proclamations for creating uncertainty by suspending the normal code-update process and allowing counties to deviate from the 2021 code. Supporters of the resolution appear to favor restoring the State Building Code Council, funding it adequately, and aligning codes with Hawaii-specific conditions, while the underlying policy dispute is how quickly codes should be updated versus how much flexibility should be preserved to accelerate construction.