Senate committees pass SB 11 to require wildfire-hazard mapping and broaden utilities’ vegetation authority

Senators on the joint Committee on Water and Land and the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted Feb. 7 to pass SB 11 with amendments aimed at reducing wildfire risk near utility lines.

The measure, as described by committee leadership, 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 and hazardous vegetation within specified proximities of public rights-of-way and utility lines, and authorizes electric utilities to enter public or private property to trim or remove hazardous vegetation. The chair said the measure also incorporates standards for line clearance, tree trimmer supervision and lineman oversight and sets a later effective date for implementation.

Michael Walker, Statewide Fire Protection Forester for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, told the committee the department provided written comments and was available for questions. A witness who described two utility-related fire incidents at their residence urged action and stressed the ‘‘whole of society’’ nature of wildfire risk after recounting a transformer drop that sparked and a stand of bamboo contacting distribution lines.

Hawaiian Electric’s Wendy Oda told senators the company ‘‘understands the community’s continued concerns about wildfire risk’’ and described the bill as a ‘‘first step’’ that creates a framework for public safety and system reliability. Oda said she would like amendments to allow utilities to enter property without prior notice when ‘‘it is determined that wildfire risk is imminent’’ and to limit utility liability for vegetation-management actions. The committee said it would incorporate HECO’s recommended language and related items from SB 1561 where appropriate.

Committee members pressed for clarity about easements, county enforcement, and inclusion of non‑electric utilities; senators repeatedly emphasized balancing property rights with the need for rapid action when hazards are imminent. The chair asked HECO and other stakeholders to work with staff to refine amendment language before final adoption.

The Committee on Water & Land recorded an affirmative vote to pass SB 11 with amendments (chair aye; vice chair aye; Senator Chang excused; Senators McKelvey and DeCort voting yes/aye). The Commerce & Consumer Protection committee adopted the same recommendation (chair aye; vice chair aye; Senator McKelvey yes; Senator Richards aye; Senator Awa no). The committee set an effective date later than usual, defecting the effective date to 06/01/2050 to allow for further implementation work.

The committees said the amendments will add: explicit authority for utilities to act in imminent-risk situations with after-the-fact notification, standards for line-clearance and trimmer supervision, and statutory language for utilities to pursue cost recovery where appropriate. The measure now moves forward with committee amendments incorporated into the bill record.

Next steps: the bill is recorded as passed in committee with amendments and will proceed through the legislative process with the adopted committee language. The committees instructed staff to circulate amendment drafts to interested parties before final floor consideration.