Requesting The Office Of Planning And Sustainable Development To Convene A Working Group To Evaluate The Establishment And Administrative Placement Of An Office Of Resilience And Recovery.
Summary
H.R. 58 is a House Resolution that asks the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to convene a working group to study whether Hawaii should create a permanent Office of Resilience and Recovery and where that office should be housed administratively. The resolution is framed around the Maui wildfires and the broader need for stronger disaster preparedness, resilience planning, and recovery coordination across state government.
The working group would include state officials, legislators, county mayors, and a representative from the American Red Cross. Its task is to determine the principal department for the new office, assess how it should relate to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and report recommendations to the Legislature by November 30, 2025. The resolution does not itself create the office or change existing law; it initiates a policy review and organizational planning process.
Impact
Because this is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not directly amend statutes or appropriate funds. Its practical effect is to direct a multi-agency study of disaster resilience governance and to influence future legislation or executive action on where a permanent Office of Resilience and Recovery should be placed within state government. The resolution specifically implicates the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and potentially other departments involved in emergency management, land use, recovery, and public safety.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment appears supportive and forward-looking, with the resolution building on post-Maui wildfire concerns and the Climate Advisory Team’s recommendation for a permanent resilience office. The discussion embedded in the measure suggests broad agreement that Hawaii needs clearer leadership and coordination for disaster resilience and recovery. No opposing testimony or recorded votes are provided, so there is no evidence of formal controversy in the available record.
Contention
The main point of contention is not whether resilience planning is needed, but where the new Office of Resilience and Recovery should be placed and how it should interact with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. The resolution reflects an unresolved governance question: whether resilience functions should be centralized in one department or shared among existing agencies. Any disagreement would likely center on administrative placement, agency authority, and the division of responsibilities among state and county emergency and recovery entities.
Same As
Requesting The Office Of Planning And Sustainable Development To Convene A Working Group To Evaluate The Establishment And Administrative Placement Of An Office Of Resilience And Recovery.