HB353 would appropriate state general funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to create and administer a hurricane-fortification grant program. The Office of the Governor, working with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, would oversee grants for low-income residents and condominium associations acting on behalf of low-income unit owners to strengthen homes and condominiums against hurricane-force winds.
The bill is built around findings that climate change is increasing hurricane risk in Hawaii, that many homes and shelters are not adequately hardened, and that low-income households are least able to pay for retrofits. It sets eligibility at 80% or less of area median income and contemplates grants for residential fortification and for hurricane-resistant windows and doors in qualifying condominiums. The measure also states that applicants may not seek other funds for the same hurricane-fortification purpose.
Impact
If enacted, HB353 would create a new state-funded grant program and assign administration to the Governor’s office in coordination with DCCA’s Insurance Division. It would not amend existing substantive property or insurance law directly, but it would add a new appropriations-based resilience program affecting low-income homeowners and condominium associations, with funding targeted to hurricane hardening of residential real property. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025.
Sentiment
The bill’s stated purpose and framing suggest strong support for disaster preparedness, housing resilience, and assistance for vulnerable residents, especially in light of climate-driven hurricane risk. However, the available legislative history shows the House committee on PBS recommended deferral, indicating that at least one committee did not advance the measure at that stage. No recorded votes or transcript debate are available in the provided materials.
Contention
The main policy tension appears to be between broad support for hurricane mitigation and concerns about the cost, administration, and targeting of state grant funding. The bill specifically prioritizes low-income households and condominium owners, which may raise questions about eligibility, program design, and whether the state should fund private property retrofits versus other disaster-preparedness needs. The deferral recommendation suggests unresolved issues, but the provided record does not identify specific objections from named legislators or stakeholders.