Requesting The State Auditor To Conduct A Performance Audit Of The Hawaii State Building Code Council.
SR64 is a Senate Resolution requesting the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Hawaii State Building Code Council. The resolution frames the Council as an entity created to promote statewide consistency and public safety through building code adoption, but argues that its practical effect has been inconsistent across counties, burdensome to the construction industry, and potentially duplicative of county responsibilities. It also points to the Governor’s September 15, 2023 emergency proclamation on affordable housing, which suspended certain Council-related provisions and left the Council effectively inactive, as evidence that a broader review is warranted.
The requested audit is broad and would examine the Council’s statutory purpose, its three-year code adoption cycle, its historical performance, the effect of statewide code adoption on construction costs, permitting timelines, and housing production, and whether the Council has produced measurable benefits. It would also assess the Council’s membership, the implications of its inactivity, and whether counties generate enough permitting revenue to fund the Council. The resolution further asks the Auditor to consider alternative governance models, including restructuring, modifying, or repealing the Council, and whether counties should lead and fund the code adoption process instead of the State.
SR64 does not directly change substantive law, but it could lead to future legislation by directing the State Auditor to evaluate the Hawaii State Building Code Council and report findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, by early 2027. If acted upon later, the audit could influence statutes governing the Council’s authority, funding, governance structure, and the statewide building code adoption process, with possible implications for county-state responsibilities, permitting administration, and construction regulation.
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is skeptical of the current structure and performance of the Hawaii State Building Code Council. The bill’s findings suggest the Council has contributed to inconsistency, delay, and housing-related barriers, and that its inactivity since 2023 creates an opportunity to reassess its value. The only recorded vote shown was unanimous in the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee, where it passed unamended, indicating support for the audit request at that stage.
The main points of contention concern whether a statewide building code council is necessary, whether its three-year update cycle is too frequent, and whether the Council improves or undermines regulatory consistency and housing production. Another issue is funding and governance: the resolution questions why the State has been reluctant to fund an executive director and whether counties, as the entities that administer and enforce building codes, should instead drive and finance the process. Stakeholders likely to be affected include county planning departments, the construction industry, housing advocates, and state agencies involved in building code administration.