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The Maui News
The state Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection will hold a field briefing in Lahaina next week to address questions and take testimony on wildfire-related insurance claims.
The briefing will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Lahaina Civic Center. Public testimony will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a briefing by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Insurance Division from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Questions and answers will follow from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
"Our committee has heard from various neighbors on Maui that they continue to face challenges relating to processing wildfire insurance claims, including home, business, vehicle, and vessel policies," Oahu Sen. Jarett Keohokalole, who chairs the committee, said in a news release Wednesday. "With so many on Maui lacking access to lodging, transportation, and internet, it was clear that the Committee needs to go to them to hear their concerns and answer their questions."
This is the second time in 15 years that a Senate committee has held a field briefing on a Neighbor Island. In 2019, the Senate Committees on Ways and Means and Public Safety held a briefing on Maui in response to the Maui Community Correctional Center riot.
Maui residents will be given priority to testify at the briefing. A time limit for testifiers may be implemented due to time constraints. Those wishing to provide oral testimony in person or remotely via Zoom should register in advance at forms.office.com/r/zjCGDwgtZL.
Written testimony should be emailed to CPNcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, with "Public Testimony" included in the subject line. A first and last name should be provided; anonymous testimony will not be accepted. All testimony is posted on the Legislature's publicly accessible website, so testifiers should not include information that they do not want disclosed to the public.
Those requiring auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process should contact the committee clerk at (808) 587-7215 at least 24 hours prior to the briefing so arrangements can be made.