# Hawaii SB 239: RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Hawaii SB 239, RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Mike Gabbard (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-11 (Reported from GVO/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 230) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB239-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 239
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-02-11, Reported from GVO/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 230) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: State Buildings, Public Schools Buildings, Design, Hurricanes, Shelter, GVO/PSM, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires certain state buildings, including public school buildings, for which construction is anticipated to commence on or after 7/1/2026 to be designed to withstand category five hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (11)

- 2025-02-11: Reported from GVO/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 230) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee on GVO reconsidered its previous decision. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on GVO deferred the measure until 02-04-25 3:00PM; CR 225. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: The committee(s) on GVO/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Referred to GVO/PSM, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB239_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB239_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB239_.PDF)
- SB239_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB239_SD1_.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/SB239_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB239_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB239_.PDF)
- [SB239_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB239_SD1_.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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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB239-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).