HB 2457: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Emergency Preparedness; Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program; Report; Appropriation
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-02-11
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-02-20: Re-referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 14)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
The bill creates a pilot program in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to set up five community resilience hubs across the state. The hubs — one in urban Oahu, one in rural Oahu, and one each on Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui — are meant to help residents prepare for and respond to disasters. The agency must work with other groups, report its findings and recommendations to the legislature, and the bill provides state funding for the pilot.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Establishes the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Requires a report. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Establishes the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program within the University of Hawaii. Requires a report. Appropriates funds.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2457 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that with the increasing likelihood and severity of natural disasters caused by climate change, the need for emergency preparedness to protect lives and property has become more urgent. The legislature further finds that community resilience hubs could help residents prepare for natural or human-caused disasters.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to establish a pilot program within the Hawaii emergency management agency to create community resilience hubs throughout the State.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the Hawaii emergency management agency the community resilience hubs pilot program.
(b) The community resilience hubs pilot program shall establish five community resilience hubs throughout the State, as follows:
(1) One community resilience hub shall be located in an urban area of Oahu;
(2) One community resilience hub shall be located in a rural area of Oahu;
(3) One community resilience hub shall be located on the island of Hawaii;
(4) One community resilience hub shall be located on the island of Kauai; and
(5) One community resilience hub shall be located in Maui county.
(c) The Hawaii emergency management agency shall partner with any agency or subject matter groups that are equipped to assist communities with the planning, design, and execution of establishing their own community readiness centers or community resilience hubs.
(d) No later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2027, the Hawaii emergency management agency shall submit to the legislature a report concerning the community resilience hubs pilot program, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of the community resilience hubs pilot program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii emergency management agency for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Emergency Preparedness; Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program; Report; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Requires a report. Appropriates funds. 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. |
2457 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to emergency preparedness.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that with the increasing likelihood and severity of natural disasters caused by climate change, the need for emergency preparedness to protect lives and property has become more urgent. The legislature further finds that community resilience hubs could help residents prepare for natural or human-caused disasters.
The legislature further finds that this issue is a matter of statewide concern that falls under its purview pursuant to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to establish a pilot program within the university of Hawaii to create community resilience hubs throughout the State.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the university of Hawaii the community resilience hubs pilot program.
(b) The community resilience hubs pilot program shall establish five community resilience hubs throughout the State, as follows:
(1) One community resilience hub shall be located in an urban area of Oahu;
(2) One community resilience hub shall be located in a rural area of Oahu;
(3) One community resilience hub shall be located on the island of Hawaii;
(4) One community resilience hub shall be located on the island of Kauai; and
(5) One community resilience hub shall be located in Maui county.
(c) No later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2027, the university of Hawaii shall submit to the legislature a report concerning the community resilience hubs pilot program, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of the community resilience hubs pilot program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Emergency Preparedness; Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program; University of Hawaii; Report; Appropriations
Description:
Establishes the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program within the University of Hawaii. Requires a report. Appropriates funds.
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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| Feb 20, 2026 | Re-referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 14 |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 224-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Wednesday, 02-11-26 8:40AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Referred to PBS, HED, FIN, referral sheet 6 |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 27, 2026 | 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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| Feb 11, 2026 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Public Safety |
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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| UHERO | *** Support | Feb 11, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 224-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2457
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 2457 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.
Your Committee finds that with the increasing likelihood and severity of natural disasters caused by climate change, the need for emergency preparedness has become more urgent. This measure will establish the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program to help the State's residents prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Establishing the pilot project within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency rather than the University of Hawaii;
(2) Requiring the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to partner with any agency or subject matter groups that are equipped to assist communities with the planning, design, and execution of establishing their own community readiness centers or community resilience hubs;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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. 2457, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2457, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.
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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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 11, 2026 | HB2457_TESTIMONY_PBS_02-11-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
57SEC
House Standing Committee on Public Safety
19SEC
House Standing Committee on Public Safety
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
