SB 822 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE LANDLORD TENANT CODE.

Summary

Establishes a three-year Residential Landlord-Tenant Code Working Group within the Judiciary. Requires an initial report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2026 and a final report no later than 7/1/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB822_SD1 → SB822_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from a substantive amendment to an existing landlord-tenant statute into a new bill establishing a temporary working group. The original text (SD1) provided landlords with specific legal remedies for tenant violations, including the ability to terminate leases, bill for repairs, and seek court injunctions. The new text (SD2) removes all of these enforcement provisions and instead creates a Residential Landlord-Tenant Code Working Group within the Judiciary to review and recommend updates to the code, with no immediate changes to existing landlord-tenant rights or remedies.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from immediate enforcement of tenant remedies to a long-term study and review process. The original bill applied immediately to existing and future landlord-tenant disputes, while the new bill defers substantive changes until after the working group submits its report in 2027.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed all provisions allowing landlords to terminate leases, bill tenants for repairs, or seek court injunctions for tenant violations of section 521-51.

REQUIREMENT

Added creation of a Residential Landlord-Tenant Code Working Group within the Judiciary consisting of the Chief Justice and other appointed members.

TIMELINE

Added requirement for the working group to submit a report with recommendations to the legislature by June 30, 2027.

Added effective date of July 1, 2050, indicating no immediate changes to the law.

SCOPE

Changed the bill's purpose from providing immediate legal remedies to establishing a study group for future legislative updates.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2025 · House Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

24–1

Passed

Total votes 25

Mar 4, 2025

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican3

2 Yea 1 Nay

66% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 658).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1477) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Tam, Pierick.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 203) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 10:01AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 383) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to CPN, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors