HI SCR69

Requests the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Hawaii State Building Code Council, with findings and recommendations due no later than 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2027.

The Council has been effectively inactive since a September 15, 2023 Governor's emergency proclamation relating to affordable housing suspended certain provisions governing the Council.

Audit would examine whether the mandatory three-year code adoption cycle is too frequent, creating burdens on stakeholders and disruptions to the construction industry before prior updates can be fully implemented.

The audit would assess whether the Council has achieved its goal of regulatory consistency among counties, or whether it has caused greater inconsistency and unpredictability across jurisdictions.

Requires examination of alternative governance structures, including whether counties should manage, fund, and drive the code adoption process instead of the State, and whether the Council should be modified, restructured, or repealed.