URGING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH ALGORITHMIC PRICE-SETTING AND PRICE-FIXING PRACTICES ARE BEING USED IN THE STATE'S RENTAL HOUSING MARKET.

HR 171 is a House Resolution urging Hawaii's Attorney General to investigate whether property management software with algorithms is being used to set or fix rental prices in the state's housing market. It requests an examination of how such software collects pricing data, recommends rent levels, potentially enables landlord collusion, and affects housing affordability. The resolution does not create new laws but asks the Attorney General to report findings - including whether these practices contribute to rising rents - by early 2026. It directly affects the Attorney General's office and aims to inform future legislative action on Hawaii's housing crisis.