SB 3344 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Wildfire Relief Fund and a Wildfire Relief Fund Corporation to compensate property owners, insurers, and governmental entities for losses from catastrophic wildfires (those damaging/destroying more than 500 structures).

• Creates a five-member board of directors appointed by the governor to oversee the fund, which will be administered by a governor-appointed administrator exempt from civil service requirements.

• Requires participation contributions from the State, electric utilities, other public utilities, governmental entities, and large private landowners (1,000+ acres); property owners may opt out of the fund.

• Establishes claim procedures for property owners (up to a specified maximum per claim), property insurers (receiving a percentage of their wildfire-related claim payments), and governmental entities; includes a depletion payment mechanism if fund resources are insufficient.

• Includes Public Utilities Commission oversight of electric utility conduct related to wildfires, with authority to order reimbursement to the fund for imprudent actions (capped at 20% of utility equity rate base).