HI HCR174

Requests the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Hawaii State Building Code Council, with findings due 20 days before the 2027 Regular Session.

The Council has been effectively inactive since September 15, 2023, when the Governor's emergency proclamation on affordable housing suspended its operations, recognizing it as a barrier to housing production.

The audit would examine whether the three-year code adoption cycle is too frequent, the Council's impact on regulatory consistency among counties, and effects on construction costs, permitting timelines, and housing production.

The audit should assess alternative governance structures, including whether counties should manage and fund building code adoption instead of the state, and whether the Council should be modified, restructured, or repealed.

Consultation is required with the Department of Accounting and General Services, Governor's Housing Team, planning departments from all four counties, and construction industry stakeholders.