[link removed] [[link removed]]Aloha,
This week Governor Josh Green signed Acts 301 and 302 into law — new legislation finalizing the global settlement for claims relating to the August 2023 Maui wildfires and further codifying fire safety regulations including the role of Hawaii’s first State Fire Marshal in nearly 46 years.
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“Today we are re-envisioning the path forward in the roadmap of wildfire prevention and recovery,” Governor Green said. “We are taking action from both ends of the wildfire spectrum — building a more robust fire prevention framework within the state and enacting historic legislation that will aid in timely access to compensation following disaster. This crisis impacts us on many fronts, and it is time we tackle it the same way, from multiple directions.”
Act 301 establishes the Maui Wildfires Settlement Trust Fund to provide dedicated funding for those affected by the 2023 Maui wildfires — appropriating $807.5 million to support the state’s contribution in the settlement of claims which will be deposited into the trust fund.
Additional contributions to the state fund include funding from the County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, Charter Communications/Spectrum, Hawaiian Telcom, and West Maui Land Company.
Governor Green said it is important to provide timely compensation for survivors’ claims as an alternative to lengthy litigation, ensuring those affected do not have to wait years to start rebuilding their lives.
“This legislation is a huge win and sets a new precedent for swift settlement of claims for wildfire victims,” Josh said. “It should not take years for people to see compensation or begin rebuilding. This is about healing, restoring trust and helping families recover as quickly as possible in the place they call home.”
The settlement agreement totals over $4 billion and resolves claims of liability against multiple defendants, including the County of Maui — aiming to reduce the legal load of the judicial system while avoiding the high costs associated with litigation.
Act 302 establishes the recommendations provided in the Fire Safety Research Institute’s report, developed to improve fire preparedness and response following the August 2023 Maui wildfires — specifically Phase 3 of the report which looks ahead and proposes improvements to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
The new law moves the Office of the State Fire Marshal to the Department of Law Enforcement and further clarifies the roles, duties, and discretionary authority of both the Office and the State Fire Marshal — supporting the state’s efforts to provide coordinated, statewide fire prevention and readiness strategies.
The bill requires the Fire Chief of each county to investigate and maintain an annual record of fire occurrences, which will be submitted to the Office of the State Fire Marshal for centralized analysis.
“Last month, I appointed Dori Booth as Hawaii’s new State Fire Marshal, reviving a critical public safety position that has been vacant for nearly 46 years,” Josh said. “This appointment marks a turning point as we redefine the role — empowering the office with clear authority and resources to better protect our state through fire prevention strategies and analysis.”
An annual appropriation of $2.2 million in both fiscal years 2026 and 2027 will support the establishment and operations of the Office and State Fire Marshal.
If you support Josh’s efforts to protect Hawaii from future wildfires and support the survivors of the Maui wildfires, please follow us on Facebook [[link removed]] , Instagram [[link removed]] , and X [[link removed]] .
Mahalo,
Team Green
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