OPPOSE HB1725 HD1: Dangerous Delayed Building Codes
/On Friday, we can push back against special interests co-opting government processes intended to keep us safe and resilient in true emergencies. Please take a moment to submit testimony and consider testifying verbally as well - sample testimony and testimony instructions below!
Friday, February 27 at 2pm in room 308, the House Finance Committee will consider HB1725 HD1, which does provide much-needed staff support for the State Building Code Council - but which would also delay building code updates for the better part of a decade. With all of the enhanced protections and energy cost savings provided in each code update - developed through years of research and “lessons learned” from disasters and technological innovations from around the world - this would needlessly compromise the safety of local families, first responders, and entire neighborhoods, as well as the economic and environmental interests of our communities as a whole, without addressing the true root causes of the county permitting delays cited by this measure.
Sample testimony for HB1725 HD1
Aloha Chair Todd, Vice Chair Takenouchi, and Members of the Committee,
My name is [your name], and I am writing in OPPOSITION to HB1725 HD1 as drafted.
My primary concerns are with the code-skipping provisions in Section 5 of this measure, which would saddle Hawai‘i residents with nearly decade-old building standards that do not respond to the rapidly changing realities of our climate crisis – jeopardizing human health and safety as well as our islands’ climate resiliency.
As the climate crisis continues to worsen, all aspects of our society must rapidly adapt. This is particularly true for our built environment. Outdated or nonexistent building codes that do not reflect our climate reality have already led to significant numbers of heat-related indoor deaths in other jurisdictions. The anticipated increase in extreme weather-related events such as fires and floods must also be accounted for via up-to-date building codes, to protect both residents and first responders. Buildings that do not meet modern infrastructure standards may also result in the unnecessary draining of our water and energy resources, exacerbate the impacts of droughts on our water security, drive up our collective carbon footprint, and create long-term and ever-increasing costs for residents and businesses.
While the health and safety concerns are paramount, there are also concerns regarding the economic impacts of present and future federal funding and insurance requirements that may hinge on our compliance with up-to-date building codes.
Accordingly, I respectfully urge you to HOLD HB1725 HD1, or to remove the provisions found in Section 5 of this measure.
Mahalo nui for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Testimony instructions
Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email).
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter “HB1725” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information, select “OPPOSE”, write or copy/paste your testimony, and select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able!
Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4).
And please don’t forget to spread the word!