Hawaii House Bill HB2766

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/24
• Refer: 1/26/24

Caption

Relating To Vegetation Management Near Utility Lines.

Impact

The legislation stipulates that property owners must maintain vegetation on both public and private lands, defining specific clearance zones around utility lines. In high-risk wildfire areas, property owners are required to create 'combustible-free spaces' to mitigate fire hazards. Moreover, the bill empowers utility companies to intervene in trimming or removing hazardous vegetation even outside their established easements, thus broadening their operational scope in hazard management.

Summary

House Bill 2766 proposes the establishment of a comprehensive vegetation management program aimed at reducing wildfire risks associated with electric utility lines in Hawaii. This initiative comes in response to the devastating wildfires that affected Maui on August 8, 2023, drawing attention to the fire hazards posed by nearby vegetation. The bill outlines property owners' responsibilities regarding vegetation care, especially in proximity to utility infrastructure, to ensure safety and compliance with fire management standards.

Contention

While the bill is largely framed as a safety measure, concerns have arisen regarding the limitations it places on property rights and accountability for utility companies. The legislation specifies that utility companies will have immunity from liability related to their vegetation management actions, which raises questions about the adequacy of oversight and the balance of risk management responsibilities. Critics argue that this could lead to abuses in vegetation management practices without sufficient checks on utility company actions, potentially undermining local land management efforts.