House concurrent resolution in memory of distinguished Vermont attorney Richard T. Cassidy of Burlington

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Angela Arsenault and 8 co-sponsors

Urges DLNR to convene a Vegetation Management Working Group to study regulations defining property-owner duties for vegetation management to reduce wildfire risk.

Ceremonial Reading

Summary — HCR 148 (2024‑2025)

Title: Urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a Vegetation Management Working Group to study, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding regulations that define property owner obligations to perform vegetation management on public and private property for purposes of wildfire risk mitigation

Main purpose and intent

HCR 148 is a concurrent resolution that urges the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to convene a Vegetation Management Working Group. The working group is to study and evaluate regulations (and potential regulatory frameworks) that would define property-owner obligations to perform vegetation management on public and private property to reduce wildfire risk, and to make recommendations based on that study.

Key provisions

Requests DLNR to establish and convene a Vegetation Management Working Group.

Directs the working group to study and evaluate regulations that would define property-owner responsibilities for vegetation management for wildfire risk mitigation.

Calls for the working group to develop and submit recommendations (on regulatory language, standards, implementation, enforcement, and related support or incentives) based on its findings.

Note: The text made available with the bill title does not include specific membership, deadlines, reporting dates, or required deliverables. The resolution itself is advisory and does not directly change law or impose new legal obligations.

Who is affected

DLNR (administrative responsibility to convene and host the working group)

State and county agencies involved in land, forestry, and fire management (expected participants or consultees)

Private property owners and public land managers (subject of the study and potential future regulations)

Fire departments, community associations, agricultural and conservation stakeholders (likely invited to participate or be affected by future recommendations)

Developers, landowners, and residents could be affected if the working group’s recommendations lead to later rulemaking or legislation establishing obligations or enforcement mechanisms.

Procedural status and timeline (selected milestones)

Introduced: May 12, 2025 (bill file date shown)

Committee referrals and consideration occurred in 2024–2025 (WAL, FIN, Culture/Recreation & Tourism, others noted in record)

House adoption: May 28, 2025

Senate adoption: June 1, 2025

Sent to Governor: June 2, 2025

Signed by the Governor: June 20, 2025

Because this is a concurrent resolution (non‑binding), its primary effect is to request and encourage DLNR action and to generate stakeholder discussion; it does not by itself create enforceable obligations. Readers should watch for subsequent administrative rulemaking or statutory proposals that implement any recommendations produced by the working group.

Notes and caveats

A line in the bill record referring to “Community Health Workers; Training Programs…” appears to be unrelated to the vegetation-management topic and may be a clerical or reporting error; it does not align with the resolution title or stated subject.

The resolution does not, in the available record, specify working-group membership, timelines, reporting deadlines, or funding for DLNR to carry out the study; those details may be developed by DLNR when convening the group or appear in follow-up measures.