Big Island Lawmakers Back Bill to Speed Up Building Permits Statewide
Six Big Island lawmakers helped push a bill through two Senate committees that would require annual permitting staff training, backed by $25,000 in state funds.
Six Hawaii Island representatives who co-introduced House Bill 1964 cleared a significant hurdle this week as two state Senate committees approved the measure Monday, advancing a statewide push to cut building permit wait times through mandatory annual training for permitting staff.
The bill, first introduced in the House in January by a slate of more than a dozen lawmakers, passed its final House reading earlier this month and was transmitted to the Senate on March 10. The six Big Island co-introducers span the island from Hamakua to Kohala: Matthias Kusch (Dist. 1, Hamakua), Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy (Dist. 2, Hilo), Greggor Ilagan (Dist. 4, Puna), Kirstin Kahaloa (Dist. 6, Kailua-Kona), Nicole Lowen (Dist. 7, Kailua-Kona), and David Tarnas (Dist. 8, Kohala).
Keohokapu-Lee Loy described the legislation as a way to "harmonize understanding" between the different entities involved in the permitting process, a friction point that has long frustrated contractors, homebuilders, and residents trying to navigate inconsistent guidance from reviewers.
Per the bill's text, permitting officials would be required to complete annual training covering recent changes to building codes and standards, digital tools using artificial intelligence to assist with permit intake and review, best practices for giving consistent feedback to applicants, and practical application training on how code changes affect typical projects. The curriculum targets state and county permitting staff, including plan reviewers.
Funding for the training sessions would come from a $25,000 state appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027, contingent upon each county providing matching funds of $6,250. The bill does not specify whether counties have committed to providing that match.
With Senate committee approval now secured, the bill moves closer to a full Senate vote. If it clears the chamber and is signed into law, Hawaii Island's permitting offices, from Hilo to Kona, would be among those required to implement the new annual training framework.
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