SB1506 creates a new statute of repose for professional land surveyors and real property owners. Under the bill, no civil action may be filed against a professional land surveyor or an owner of real property once 10 years have passed since the later of either completion of the surveying contract or final payment for the surveying work. The measure is placed within chapter 464, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which governs professional licensing for land surveyors.
The bill’s findings explain that design claims conciliation panels were originally created to protect design professionals from frivolous lawsuits, and that architects and engineers are treated differently under existing law because their services are tied to safeguarding life, health, or property. The bill extends a similar liability limitation to land surveyors, whose work is described as measuring and locating property boundaries and related features for legal or geodetic purposes. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2050.
Impact
SB1506 would amend chapter 464 by adding a new section establishing a 10-year statute of repose for claims against professional land surveyors and owners of real property arising from land surveying work. In practical terms, it would bar lawsuits filed more than 10 years after the later of contract completion or final payment, limiting long-tail liability exposure for surveyors and potentially for property owners involved in surveying-related disputes. The bill would affect civil litigation, professional liability, and the legal framework governing licensed land surveyors in Hawaii.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable committee sentiment: the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee passed the measure with amendments by a 5-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader support or opposition. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a technical liability-reform measure rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether land surveyors and property owners should receive the same kind of repose protection already available to other design professionals, such as architects and engineers, despite the legislature’s acknowledgment that surveying services are not described in the same life-safety terms. Supporters are likely to view the bill as a fairness and certainty measure that reduces stale claims and aligns surveyors with other licensed design professionals. Potential opponents could argue that the 10-year cutoff may limit recourse for property owners or others harmed by latent surveying errors discovered later, especially in boundary or title-related disputes.