HONOLULU (CN) — A bill that could some ban short-term vacation rentals in Hawaii is on its way to the governor’s desk, alongside other legislation supporting recovery on Maui.
Hawaii lawmakers approved Senate Bill 2919 Wednesday, which would allow counties to define zoning ordinances, as well as “amortize or phase out transient accommodations uses in residential or agricultural zoned areas.”
The state has eyed conversion of short-term vacation rentals into long-term housing to support those affected by the massive August 2023 wildfires that that killed over 100 people in Lahaina and displaced thousands more.
Ahead of Wednesday’s votes in the House and Senate, Hawaii Governor Josh Green pledged to sign the bill if it passes.
“We know the majority of STRs in Hawaii are illegal, owned by non-residents, and contribute to skyrocketing housing costs,” Green wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We support Senate Bill 2919 to empower counties to regulate STRs and potentially phase them out.”
The vacation rental bill is only one of the measures Hawaii lawmakers introduced in the legislative session to support recovery on Maui following the fires.
Senate Bill 2085, approved with unanimous support in both chambers on Wednesday, reestablishes a state fire marshal in Hawaii, which until now was the only state in the U.S. without the position. For nearly 50 years since the role was eliminated in 1978, Hawaii has instead relied on a State Fire Council, which lawmakers said lacks the funding and staff to perform the same duties as a fire marshal.
Representative Darius Kila, a Nanakuli Democrat, said Wednesday that the state fire marshal, to be appointed by the fire council, will “head all the fire county chiefs in working to make sure the state and county is doing diligent work and measures to prevent another catastrophe based on negligence.”
Without a fire marshal, fire prevention efforts in Hawaii were coordinated by individual county fire departments and the Hawaii State Fire Council, an approach some have criticized as playing a role in the extent of the wildfires’ devastation.
Fire response coordination came to the forefront of issues following the Maui fires. Maui county officials were largely condemned for the fire response, from their lack of communication to their delayed responses. The director of the Maui Emergency Management Agency resigned in August 2023 after saying he didn’t regret not sounding emergency sirens on the day of the fire.
On budgeting, Senate Bill 3068 and Senate Bill 582 would collectively appropriate over $1 billion to continue financial support for Maui.
Senate Bill 582 , which also sets aside funds for the One Ohana Bank Trust to compensate Maui wildfire victims, cleared both chambers Wednesday. Senate Bill 3068 will be voted on when the legislature reconvenes Friday.
Lawmakers last week killed a controversial securitization bill that would have allowed Hawaiian Electric to issue bonds collecting a “wildfire protection charge” from ratepayers. Although the origin of the wildfires has yet to be officially determined, Hawaiian Electric has borne the brunt of the blame for the fires as hundreds of lawsuits have been brought against the utility for its electric lines potentially sparking the blaze.
Lawmakers looked beyond Maui on other measures passed this week, including one regarding the Israel and Hamas conflict. On Monday, the Hawaii state Senate became the first legislative body to pass a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Senate Bill 2619 also assigns nearly $20 million for biosecurity to establish measures to combat invasive species wreaking havoc on the islands’ delicate ecosystem and its agricultural industry. $1.5 million will be going to combat the spread of the highly disruptive coconut rhinoceros beetle, insects known to decimate palm tree crop — with another $1.5 million going toward eradicating invasive little fire ants.
A pair of measures regulating the labeling and advertising of Hawaii products also heads to the governor’s desk. House Bill 2278 requires macadamia nut companies to disclose whether the nuts are actually grown in Hawaii on their packaging. House Bill 2298 requires coffee products that are advertised as being made in Hawaii to contain at least 51% Hawaii grown coffee.
Hawaii senators adjourned their Wednesday session with a measure to make the shaka the state’s official gesture. If signed by the governor, the measure would make Hawaii the first state to have a state gesture.
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