Hawaii Senate Bill SB11

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/25
• Refer: 1/16/25
• Report Pass: 2/14/25
• Refer: 2/14/25
• Report Pass: 2/28/25
• Engrossed: 3/4/25
• Refer: 3/6/25

Caption

RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT NEAR UTILITY LINES.

Summary

SB11 creates a statewide vegetation management framework aimed at reducing wildfire risk near electric utility lines, prompted by the 2023 Maui wildfires. It directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create and annually update a wildfire hazard map identifying high-, medium-, and low-risk areas by county. The bill also sets out duties for private and public property owners to maintain vegetation on their land, especially in higher-risk areas, and establishes minimum combustible-free clearances near public rights of way and utility lines. The measure authorizes electric utility companies to enter private or public property in certain circumstances to trim or remove hazardous vegetation, including vegetation outside existing easements, if the vegetation poses a risk to utility lines. It creates notice requirements, a 30-day abatement process, and an emergency 48-hour notice process for imminent wildfire threats. The bill also allows fines for noncompliance, requires reporting to the Public Utilities Commission, mandates prevailing wage and qualified worker standards for the work, and includes an appropriation for DLNR to implement the program.

Impact

SB11 would add a new section to Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shifting some wildfire-mitigation responsibilities from utilities to property owners and public entities while also giving utilities explicit statutory authority to clear hazardous vegetation beyond easement boundaries in designated risk areas. It would create enforcement tools for the State Fire Marshal and county fire departments, establish property-owner fines, and require DLNR to maintain a wildfire hazard map. The bill also affects utility operations, landowner obligations, public right-of-way maintenance, labor standards for vegetation work, and PUC reporting, while appropriating state funds for implementation.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad policy support around wildfire prevention and utility-line safety, as reflected in multiple committee approvals with amendments in the Senate. At the same time, the measure was still being refined and ultimately recommended to be deferred by the WAL/PBS committee, suggesting unresolved concerns about implementation, scope, or impacts. Overall, the discussion history indicates general agreement on the need for stronger vegetation management after the Maui fires, but not full consensus on the bill’s final form.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely the bill’s allocation of responsibility and authority: it places maintenance duties and potential fines on private and public property owners, while also granting utilities a right of entry to trim vegetation on land outside easements. Additional areas that may have drawn concern include the breadth of the wildfire hazard map’s effect on property rights, the emergency entry provisions, the cost recovery mechanism, and the practical burden on counties, DLNR, and landowners. The deferred status in WAL/PBS suggests some members may have wanted more clarity or narrower authority before advancing the measure.