Housing

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 1325: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires developers developing an affordable housing project under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to assist certain tenants who are subject to displacement or eviction by the proposed project by: granting those tenants the right of first refusal of a comparable unit in the housing project or establishing a fund to provide relocation benefits and offer assistance; providing information, either directly or through a contracted service, on how to obtain assistance and exercise the right of first refusal; and establishing procedures to track and maintain communication with those tenants. Establishes consequences for a developer's noncompliance. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates relocation assistance and right of first refusal for displaced tenants in affordable housing projects, strengthening tenant protections under HHFDC programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1774: RELATING TO CENTRALIZED ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop, implement, and maintain a centralized resource website to connect residents to support and resources to address affordability, health, safety, and the impacts of climate change. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for climate commission website, directly allocating state budget resources to fund public service infrastructure under 'Appropriation ($)' subject.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds Hawaii Climate Commission's website for climate change resources, directly supporting environmental mitigation and adaptation efforts.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill appropriates funds for a centralized website connecting residents to resources addressing housing affordability, explicitly listed as a subject and key focus area.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1732: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kamaaina Homes Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide funding to a county, to be designated by the Corporation, to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homebuyers. Sunsets 6/30/2032. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Kamaaina Homes Program to fund counties purchasing voluntary deed restrictions, securing long-term affordability for homebuyers through HHFDC.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1777: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Tenant Protection Working Group within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to address certain tenant protection issues in the State. Requires the Tenant Protection Working Group to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires developers to provide displaced tenants with right of first offer and replacement housing payments, directly protecting tenants from eviction during housing projects.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

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 absent

Track

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

Track

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 absent

Track

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

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2476: PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 12 AND 13, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION.

Proposes constitutional amendments to expressly provide that the Legislature may authorize political subdivisions, such as the counties, to issue housing infrastructure growth bonds for specified public works, public improvements, or other actions necessary for housing and community development, and exclude these bonds from determinations of the funded debt of the political subdivisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAuthorizes counties to issue housing infrastructure bonds for new development, excluding from debt calculations to facilitate housing projects.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1919: RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

HB 1919 prohibits counties from requiring minimum parking spaces for certain new developments starting July 1, 2027. It directly affects counties and developers building projects like residential, commercial, or mixed-use properties that fall under the bill's scope. The key provision removes a common requirement that often increases construction costs and land use for such projects. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2027, with a noted but likely erroneous "effective 7/1/3000" date in the abstract.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves parking mandates that increase construction costs, potentially lowering housing costs and boosting affordability for new developments.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track