SB 626 is a disaster preparedness measure focused on keeping evacuation routes clear during emergencies, especially tsunami and flood events. The bill directs the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) to identify public highways that qualify as evacuation routes, including roads serving tsunami evacuation zones, special flood hazard areas, and certain isolated areas with significant populations. It also prohibits planting new large trees within 15 feet of the roadway portion of those routes beginning July 1, 2025.
The bill further requires HIEMA to create and maintain a registry of existing large trees near evacuation routes and, if a tree could obstruct evacuation during an emergency or disaster, to trim, spray, or remove it or order the property controller to do so. The measure defines key terms such as “large tree,” “evacuation route,” “public highway,” and “special flood hazard area,” and it includes an unspecified general fund appropriation for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to carry out the program.
Impact
If enacted, SB 626 would add a new section to Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, creating a statewide framework for identifying and protecting evacuation routes from tree-related obstructions. It would impose a new planting restriction near designated evacuation routes, authorize HIEMA to maintain a registry of existing trees, and give the agency authority to require mitigation or removal of trees that could block evacuation access. The bill would also require state funding through an appropriation to HIEMA for implementation.
Sentiment
The bill’s stated purpose and framing suggest strong support for emergency preparedness and public safety, with an emphasis on the urgency of evacuation in tsunami-prone and flood-prone areas. The available record does not include committee testimony, amendments, or votes, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill text itself. Overall, the measure appears to be presented as a preventive safety initiative rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to involve property rights, landowner responsibility, and the practical burden of identifying, maintaining, and removing trees near evacuation routes. The bill allows HIEMA to order landowners or other persons controlling the property to trim, spray, or remove trees, which could raise concerns about costs, enforcement, and liability. Another possible issue is the breadth of the agency’s discretion in determining additional evacuation areas and deciding when a tree has the potential to obstruct a route.