HB 2121 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 127A to clarify that emergency powers cannot conflict with the U.S. Constitution or Hawaii State Constitution.

• Requires any suspension of law during an emergency to identify the specific section suspended, specify which emergency management functions are facilitated, and justify the suspension based on protecting public health, safety, and welfare.

• Establishes automatic 60-day termination of state and local emergencies unless extended or terminated by separate proclamation, with governors and mayors required to proclaim termination at the earliest date conditions warrant.

• Clarifies state and county emergency management coordination, allowing the governor to require counties to obtain approval before issuing emergency orders when state operational control or coordination is necessary.

• Reduces the maximum duration of vehicle safety restraint prohibitions from 96 hours to 72 hours after an emergency declaration, unless explicitly continued in the proclamation.