Housing

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2347: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

SB 2347 requires the Office of Consumer Protection to regularly publish clear, multilingual notices explaining tenant rights under the residential landlord-tenant code. This bill directly affects renters by ensuring they receive accessible information about their legal protections, particularly in communities with limited English proficiency. Key provisions mandate that these notices be published periodically and made available in multiple languages to improve tenant awareness. The law would take effect on July 1, 2050, but is currently pending committee review.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates landlords provide tenants with multilingual rights notices, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 26: RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Establishes the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force to conduct a study, subject to legislative appropriation, to assess the viability of housing development in transit-oriented development zones or other areas on state or county lands. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force study, directly allocating state budget resources toward housing development assessment.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force to study development on public lands, appropriates funds for study to advance housing access.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill focuses on transit-oriented development zones, promoting housing integration with public transit infrastructure to advance transportation accessibility and usage.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 1669: RELATING TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Transit-Oriented Community Improvement Partnership within the Department of Transportation. Establishes the Community Improvement Special Fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds into and out of the special fund for the partnership and positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds into Community Improvement Special Fund for transit-oriented development partnership, directly funding a program through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAppropriates funds for transit-oriented housing development partnership, promoting housing near transit hubs which increases housing supply and affordability options.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates Transit-Oriented Community Improvement Partnership and funds for transportation infrastructure development under DOT, directly advancing public transit-focused projects.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SCR 46: SUPPORTING THE USE OF THE DWELLING UNIT REVOLVING FUND TO FUND PREDEVELOPMENT COSTS FOR ANY GOVERNMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THROUGH INTERIM LOANS TO EXPEDITE THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HAWAII'S RESIDENTS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution expresses support for using the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to provide interim loans for predevelopment costs on government affordable housing projects across Hawaii. The measure aims to help cover expenses like site analysis, technical studies, design work, environmental assessments, and permit preparation that occur before construction begins. Unlike previous practice, this resolution encourages extending such funding to projects owned or administered by entities other than the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. The resolution also specifies that these interim loans would be repaid by developers through the project's permanent financing source.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill proposes using Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to provide interim loans for predevelopment costs of affordable housing projects, strengthening government funding for essential public services.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds predevelopment costs for government affordable housing projects through interim loans, directly advancing affordable housing delivery in Hawaii.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SCR 107: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND LAND MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO DEVELOP A COUNTYWIDE HOUSING PATTERN BOOK TO STREAMLINE PERMIT APPROVALS AND REDUCE REGULATORY BARRIERS FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND WELL-DESIGNED HOMES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Housing and Land Management to create a countywide housing pattern book containing pre-approved building designs. The pattern book would include various housing types such as accessory dwelling units and low- to mid-rise buildings, featuring culturally appropriate and climate-responsive design elements like lanais and natural ventilation. Developers using approved designs from the book would receive streamlined permit approvals to reduce delays and costs, while the department is asked to collaborate with architects, builders, and community stakeholders in developing the collection. The resolution also requests a design competition to attract innovative designs and ensures the final pattern book will be made publicly available.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes climate-responsive design elements like natural ventilation and lanais, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact through sustainable housing design.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill seeks to streamline permitting and reduce regulatory barriers for safe, affordable, and well-designed homes, directly advancing housing development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SCR 68: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO TRANSFER PARCELS THAT MAKE UP THE EAST KAPOLEI TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND URGING THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO PARTNER WITH THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer several state-owned parcels in the East Kapolei Transit-Oriented Development Project to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. The resolution also asks the Housing Corporation to partner with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to handle non-housing community development and infrastructure work across the project area. These agencies are being encouraged to coordinate their roles based on their existing expertise, with the Housing Corporation leading housing development and the Community Development Authority managing infrastructure improvements. The bill does not mandate these actions but formally requests the agencies to align their responsibilities for this mixed-use development that includes affordable housing, commercial spaces, and transit support facilities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill urges transfer of state parcels to housing finance corporation to facilitate housing development, directly advancing affordable housing initiatives.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill promotes transit-oriented development and infrastructure coordination, supporting transportation improvements through agency partnerships.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SCR 9: URGING THE COUNTIES TO INITIATE A FREEZE ON PRIMARY RESIDENCE PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER TO CREATE A MORE SECURE FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE IMPACTED POPULATION.

SCR 9 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii counties to freeze property taxes on the primary residences of homeowners aged 75 and older. This would directly assist elderly homeowners, who face financial strain from Hawaii's high cost of living and fixed incomes, by reducing a major recurring expense. The freeze would apply only to primary residences and end if the property is sold, transferred, or the homeowner is no longer the owner. The resolution is addressed to county officials to encourage voluntary action but does not require counties to implement the policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProposes property tax freeze for elderly homeowners, reducing tax burden on fixed-income residents and aligning with tax relief indicators for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingReduces property tax burden for elderly homeowners on primary residences, directly increasing housing affordability for vulnerable seniors.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 6, 2026

HB 2049: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Restructures the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system for the sale of properties with residential use, adjusts the tax for multifamily properties to reflect value on a per-unit basis, and applies a cost-of-living adjustment to conveyance tax rates. Allocates revenues from conveyance tax collections. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax collections to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to fund infrastructure programs in areas that meet minimum standards of transit-supportive density. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax revenues to the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund, Special Land and Development Fund, and Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Establishes and appropriates funds out of the Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Authorizes the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund to be used to acquire land. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestructures conveyance tax to fund infrastructure via Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, aligning with fiscal responsibility and public service funding.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates conveyance tax revenue to Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for infrastructure in transit-oriented development areas, directly funding housing-related infrastructure projects.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates conveyance tax revenue to fund infrastructure in transit-oriented development areas, directly supporting transportation infrastructure through targeted funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 740: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to allocate funds to the counties for the purchase of equity in an accessory dwelling unit by the State. Specifies eligible homeowners or homebuyers for the Program to finance construction costs, development costs, and non-reoccurring closing costs associated with the construction of an accessory dwelling unit and purchase deed restrictions on the property. Appropriates moneys for infrastructure projects. Sunsets 1/1/2031. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds ADU construction via state equity purchase, financing costs for homeowners, and infrastructure - directly advancing affordable housing development through targeted appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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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

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