Housing

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 2190: RELATING TO INCLUSIONARY ZONING.

Prohibits any law, ordinance, or rule from imposing an inclusionary zoning requirement on housing offered exclusively for sale or rent in perpetuity to buyers or renters who are residents of the State, are owner-occupants or renters, and do not own any other real property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits inclusionary zoning requirements, reducing mandates for affordable housing units in new developments.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 20, 2026

HB 1979: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Shortens the period during which certain judicial proceedings involving environmental assessments and environmental impact statements on actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects must be initiated. Specifies that appeals from environmental courts that involve actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects meet one of the grounds for transfer to the Supreme Court. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyStreamlines judicial process for clean energy project approvals, removing legal delays to advance development.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAccelerates clean energy project approvals by shortening judicial review timelines for environmental assessments, facilitating environmental protection through clean energy development.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingShortens judicial review timelines for affordable housing projects, reducing development delays per bill's focus on expediting environmental assessments for such projects.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 2981: RELATING TO LAND USE.

This bill prohibits counties from requiring minimum parking spaces for certain developments starting July 1, 2027. The law applies to local governments that currently enforce parking mandates for new construction projects. The restriction remains in effect until July 1, 3000, giving it a very long-term duration. The measure aims to give developers more flexibility in designing parking solutions without being forced to meet specific minimum requirements.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves parking mandates that increase development costs, enabling more housing units and potentially lowering costs for residents by facilitating denser urban development.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 1738: RELATING TO LAND USE DECISION-MAKING.

Authorizes counties to amend district boundaries involving land areas of greater than fifteen but no more than twenty-five acres for purposes of residential housing, agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental housing, or workforce fee simple ownership. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly enables counties to expand residential and workforce housing development via boundary changes, directly advancing housing availability and affordability goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 1844: RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Except for Important Agricultural Lands, requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingReclassifying lands to urban districts enables higher-density housing development, aligning with housing supply goals by facilitating county-led urban growth planning.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 1739: RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the development of transit-supportive densities to be allowed in any county-designated transit-oriented development area. Prohibits the counties from enacting an ordinance, rule, regulation, development standard, zoning provision, or other land use control that restricts the development of transit-supportive densities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill prohibits restrictions on transit-supportive densities in TOD zones, enabling higher-density housing development. This directly advances housing development by removing barriers to building more units near transit.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProhibits county restrictions on transit-supportive densities in TOD zones, enabling higher-density development near transit to promote sustainable transportation use and infrastructure integration.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1593: RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Requires, for any affordable rental housing development project that receives financing or any financial assistance from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, that the Corporation require the housing development lease or occupancy agreement to allow residents to own or otherwise maintain one or more common household pets. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires pet-inclusive leases in affordable housing projects, strengthening tenant rights and aligning with tenant protection policies for subsidized housing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2444: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2444 increases the state tax credit available to low-income household renters, raising the amount from $50 to $100 for each tax exemption claimed by the taxpayer. This change directly affects renters who qualify as low-income and claim tax exemptions, providing them with greater financial relief through their state tax return. The key provision is the specific dollar amount increase per exemption, making the credit more substantial for eligible households. The bill does not alter eligibility criteria or introduce new administrative requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit for low-income renters, providing direct fiscal relief through higher state tax credit per exemption.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases tax credit for low-income renters from $50 to $100, directly enhancing housing affordability and financial relief for eligible households.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1756: RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

HB 1756 updates the Individual Housing Account Program statute to adjust how down-payment costs are calculated, ensuring the program reflects current housing market prices. This change directly affects individuals using the program to save for home purchases by aligning eligibility and contribution requirements with present-day housing costs. The bill modifies the statutory formula used to determine down-payment assistance amounts, removing outdated cost references to better serve participants. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill maintains pre-tax savings structure for housing program, providing tax relief to participants by alignating down-payment assistance with current housing costs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill updates Individual Housing Account Program to align down-payment assistance with current housing prices, improving access for homebuyers. This directly strengthens affordable housing programs by modernizing eligibility and contribution requir...95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2478: RELATING TO BONDS.

Authorizes the counties to implement housing infrastructure growth bonds. Conforms county debt limit statements law to permit counties to exclude housing infrastructure growth bonds from the debt limit of the counties if a constitutional amendment authorizing the use of housing infrastructure growth bonds and excluding housing infrastructure growth bonds from determinations of the counties' funded debt is ratified. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllows counties to exclude housing infrastructure bonds from debt limits, facilitating funding for housing development projects.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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