SB 822 Hawaii Senate · 2026 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 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB822_SD1 → SB822_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to remove specific legal provisions that allowed landlords to immediately seek court injunctions or judgments for possession against tenants violating lease terms. Instead, the bill now focuses solely on establishing a working group to review the entire landlord-tenant code and recommend future updates, effectively delaying any new enforcement mechanisms until a report is submitted.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from an immediate enforcement tool for landlords to a legislative study and review mechanism.

ENFORCEMENT

Deleted detailed procedures allowing landlords to petition courts for temporary restraining orders, injunctions, or immediate judgments for possession when tenants fail to comply with lease obligations.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific requirement that landlords must allow a ten-day notice period for tenants to fix issues before taking legal action.

Added the creation of a residential landlord-tenant code working group within the judiciary to review the code and recommend updates.

TIMELINE

Changed the bill's effective date from July 1, 2050 to July 1, 2025, and updated the working group's dissolution date to June 30, 2027.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

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

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

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