# Hawaii SB 11: RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT NEAR UTILITY LINES.

Hawaii SB 11, RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT NEAR UTILITY LINES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic); status passed senate, last action 2025-03-13 (The committee(s) on WAL/PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB11-2025
- As of: 2026-10-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 11
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT NEAR UTILITY LINES.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-03-13, The committee(s) on WAL/PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
- Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: DLNR, State Fire Marshal, County Fire Departments, Vegetation Management Program, Public Utility Lines, Wildfire Hazard Map, Hazardous Vegetation, Property Owner Obligations, Utility Company Rights, Fines, Appropriations, WAL/PBS, EEP, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create and annually update a wildfire hazard map. Requires private and public property owners to trim grasses within certain proximities of public rights of way and utility lines, enforced by the State Fire Marshal as to State-owned land and the applicable county fire department as to privately owned land. Authorizes electric utility companies to enter private or public property to trim or remove hazardous vegetation. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/1/2050. (SD2)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (21)

- 2025-03-13: The committee(s) on WAL/PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee(s) on WAL/PBS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-13-25 9:00AM. (House)
- 2025-03-11: Bill scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 03-13-25 9:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL/PBS on Tuesday, 03-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to WAL/PBS, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 63) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from WAM/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1004) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from WTL/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 617) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, McKelvey, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on WTL/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Referred to WTL/CPN, WAM/JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_SD2_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_.PDF)
- SB11_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_SD1_.HTM)
- SB11_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_SD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_SD2_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_.PDF)
- [SB11_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB11_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB11_SD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB11-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).