Housing

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2177: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation or a county to accept a complete application seeking certain exemptions within 30 days. Requires HHFDC to process an application and bring it before the Corporation's Board of Directors within 120 days of accepting the application. Requires county agencies to process an application and bring it before the county's legislative body within 120 days of accepting the application. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStreamlines housing project approvals via HHFDC with strict timelines (30/120 days), directly advancing housing development and affordable housing initiatives per bill's focus on exemptions and processing.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 1131: RELATING TO AN INTENSIVE MOBILE TEAM PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOUSELESS INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS BRAIN DISORDERS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a 2-year Intensive Mobile Team Pilot Program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services to chronically houseless individuals suffering from serious brain disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes DOH-funded mobile mental health services for houseless individuals with severe brain disorders, directly expanding treatment access and funding for mental health care.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds mobile treatment for houseless individuals with brain disorders, directly addressing homelessness - a core housing issue - through targeted services to stabilize housing situations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 2192: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes a county to reduce the aggregate zoned residential capacity within the county only if the county offsets that reduction by increasing zoned residential capacity elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity in the county. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents net reduction in housing capacity by requiring counties to offset local reductions with elsewhere increases, maintaining residential development.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 2424: RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Removes the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and removes the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Amends exemptions from statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules for certain housing projects developed by the Corporation that satisfy certain conditions, including requirements related to employment, owner-occupancy, and deed restrictions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves barriers for qualified residents in HHFDC projects, lowering access requirements to increase affordable housing availability.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 Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

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

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 Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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 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

Track