Housing

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 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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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 Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1596: RELATING TO STUDENT BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes a Basic Needs Pilot Program at a single campus of the University of Hawaii system. Authorizes the establishment of a Housing Stability Pilot Project at that campus. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for UH Basic Needs and Housing Stability Pilot, directly supporting student access and stability in higher education.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes a Housing Stability Pilot Project at UH campus and appropriates funds, directly funding student housing stability programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 2560: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes a two-year-pilot program within the Department of Human Services to provide temporary financial stabilization assistance to families with students identified as experiencing homelessness. Funds the program through the Department of Human Services using allowable Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds. Requires Department of Education Complex Area Community Homeless Concerns Liaison to make approved purchases. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides financial stabilization assistance to homeless families, directly addressing homelessness as a housing issue through a funded pilot program.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 1868: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes a working group to revise the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Qualified Allocation Plan and propose revisions to the prioritization of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund and the terms of loans made from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for housing finance revisions, reports, and LIHTC management, directly funding housing affordability programs under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes Working Group to revise housing fund allocation, prioritizes Rental Housing Revolving Fund, appropriates funds, and requires revisions to advance affordable housing programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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