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HR 161

REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO ASSIST IN ORGANIZING A STATEWIDE SUMMIT OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON COMMUNITY RESILIENCE HUBS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato and 3 co-sponsors

HR 161 directs Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency to organize a statewide summit of community resilience hub organizations to improve disaster preparedness coordination.

Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1602-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN.
#communityresiliencehubs #hawaiiemergencymanagementagency #statewidesummit
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Bill Summary · HR 161

Legislative bill overview

HR 161 requests that Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency organize and assist with a statewide summit bringing together organizations working on community resilience hubs. The bill has passed committee review with amendments and is currently under fiscal consideration.

Why is this important

Community resilience hubs are facilities designed to provide essential services and support during emergencies and disasters, helping vulnerable populations survive crises with minimal disruption. Hawaii faces significant disaster risks from hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity, making coordination among resilience organizations critical for emergency preparedness and equitable disaster response.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal cost: The bill now requires Financial Committee approval, suggesting concerns about state funding obligations for organizing and potentially supporting the summit and any resulting initiatives
  • Implementation scope: Unclear whether this is a one-time summit or creates ongoing coordinating responsibilities for the Emergency Management Agency
  • Definitional ambiguity: "Community resilience hubs" lack statutory definition in this request, potentially leading to inconsistent participation or expectations among organizations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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