HB 1158: RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-03
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-19: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services with a firefighting vessel at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1158 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
"§266- Firefighting; limited liability. Any person who renders firefighting services with a firefighting vessel upon a reasonable command by someone known to the person as a firefighter at any commercial harbor or roadstead, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from the person's acts or omissions occurring during the course of firefighting, except for damages as may result from the person's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions."
SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Department of Transportation; Firefighting at Commercial Harbors; Limited Liability
Description:
Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services with a firefighting vessel at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1158 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
"§266- Firefighting; limited liability. Any person who renders firefighting services upon a reasonable command by someone known to the person as a firefighter at any commercial harbor or roadstead, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from the person's acts or omissions occurring during the course of firefighting, except for such damages as may result from the person's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions."
SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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BY REQUEST |
Report Title:
Department of Transportation; Firefighting at Commercial Harbors; Limited Liability
Description:
Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Mar 19, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC. |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Reported from TRS/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3102) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Inouye, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C.. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in TRS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha, Lee, C.. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | The committee(s) on TRS/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-26 3:00PM; CR 229 & Videoconference. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Re-Referred to TRS/PSM, JDC. |
| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Referred to TCA/PSM, JDC. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 339). |
| Mar 4, 2025 | Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Feb 28, 2025 | Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1081), recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Feb 20, 2025 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. |
| Feb 18, 2025 | Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 12, 2025 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3). |
| Feb 12, 2025 | Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 457), recommending referral to JHA. |
| Feb 7, 2025 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Lamosao, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Ichiyama. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-07-25 9:30AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on PBS with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3). |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 108) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to PBS. |
| Jan 30, 2025 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica. |
| Jan 28, 2025 | Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 01-30-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 23, 2025 | Referred to TRN, PBS, JHA, referral sheet 3 |
| Jan 23, 2025 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Mar 12, 2026 | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs |
Passed |
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| Mar 12, 2026 | The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | Senate Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
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| Mar 4, 2025 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
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| Feb 20, 2025 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs |
Passed |
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| Feb 7, 2025 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Public Safety |
Passed |
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| Jan 30, 2025 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Department of Transportation | *** Support | Mar 12, 2026 |
| Department of Transportation | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Harbors Users Group | *** Support | Mar 12, 2026 |
| The Maritime Group | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1081
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 1158
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Hawaiʻi Harbors User Group. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.
Your Committee finds that there are privately owned assets and vessels that are home ported in commercial ports across the State and are equipped with firefighting tools, such as fire monitors and water cannons. However, the owners of these assets and vessels have been reluctant to use them to assist county fire departments and provide firefighting services because of concerns over possible civil liability. Limiting the civil liability for those private individuals to cases of gross negligence, as proposed by this measure, will encourage these individuals to provide assistance to county fire departments and enhance maritime safety by preventing and rapidly responding to maritime fires.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 457
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 1158
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.
Your Committee finds that this measure provides legal protection to private individuals who can assist county fire departments in certain situations by limiting their liability, except for damages resulting from gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,
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____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 108
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 1158
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1158 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to limit civil liability for private individuals who assist in providing firefighting services in and around commercial harbors and waterfront facilities.
Your Committee finds that there are privately owned assets and vessels equipped with fire monitors and water cannons that could be used in fighting fires in and around waterfront facilities. However, there have been instances where private individuals responsible for these assets and vessels have declined to assist county fire departments in providing firefighting services because of concerns over possible civil liability. This measure seeks to facilitate participation from private individuals who can provide assistance to county fire departments in certain situations by limiting liability except for damages as may result from gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Clarifying that the limitation of civil liability is for individuals who render firefighting services with a firefighting vessel;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1158, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Public Safety.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,
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____________________________ DARIUS KILA, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Mar 12, 2026 | HB1158_HD1_TESTIMONY_TRS-PSM_03-12-26_.PDF |
| Feb 20, 2025 | HB1158_HD1_TESTIMONY_JHA_02-20-25_.PDF |
| Feb 6, 2025 | HB1158_HD1_TESTIMONY_PBS_02-07-25_.PDF |
| Jan 30, 2025 | HB1158_TESTIMONY_TRN_01-30-25_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
5MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs
5MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation
2MIN
House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
27SEC
House Standing Committee on Public Safety
31SEC
House Standing Committee on Housing
31SEC
House Standing Committee on Transportation
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):