Housing

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 739: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kamaaina Homes Program to provide funding to the counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or homebuyers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Kamaaina Homes Program funding counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions, preserving affordable housing through homeowner agreements.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 306: RELATING TO THE LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord from recovering possession of a dwelling unit from a tenant if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Caps a tenant's liability for rent if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Provides remedies for retaliatory evictions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits evictions for habitability issues and caps tenant liability, directly strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 3312: RELATING TO HOUSING.

SB 3312 creates a state income tax credit program to encourage commercial property owners to convert vacant or underused buildings (like stores or offices) into residential housing. The bill directly affects property owners who complete such conversions, offering them a tax credit to offset costs. Key provisions include appropriating state funds to cover the credit value and establishing eligibility criteria for qualifying properties. This policy aims to increase housing supply by making commercial-to-residential conversions financially attractive, without specifying target locations or housing types.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit (taxation) and appropriates state funds (budget), directly using both tools to fund housing conversion program.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tax credits for converting commercial buildings to residential housing, directly increasing housing supply through financial incentives to property owners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Housing Finance

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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

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 35: RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Establishes the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Specifies permissible uses of funding and priorities. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to transfer moneys between the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount and the RHRF without legislative approval. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount within Rental Housing Revolving Fund, authorizing HHFDC to allocate funds toward housing programs and priorities, directly advancing affordable housing funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development Renters

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1604: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAppropriates funds for Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group to address housing shortages, directly advancing affordable housing access for a specific workforce.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAddresses agricultural workforce housing shortages, supporting employment standards by improving living conditions for workers.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1056: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

SB 1056 restricts annual rent increases for residential landlords by capping the maximum percentage increase allowed within a 12-month period and limiting how frequently rent can be raised. This bill directly affects residential tenants and landlords in the state by imposing these specific limits on rent hikes. Key provisions include setting a defined annual cap on rent increases and restricting the number of times a landlord may raise rent within a year. The bill is currently pending in the legislative process, having been carried over to the 2026 Regular Session.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRestricts rent increases via annual cap and frequency limits, directly protecting tenants from excessive hikes and promoting housing affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 70: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires eligible applicants of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be either governmental agencies or organizations that are required to use all financial surplus, excluding fees, to develop additional housing in the State. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates RHRF surplus use for housing development, advancing affordable housing through targeted funding of eligible applicants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1261: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a tax credit for landlords who charge below-market rent and assesses an additional privilege tax on landowners who charge above-market rent, under certain conditions. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to determine median market rent for rental units by geographic area for the purposes of the below-market rent tax credit and above-market rent tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit for below-market rent and additional tax on above-market rent, promoting housing affordability through targeted taxation and fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingTax credit for below-market rent directly increases affordable housing access; above-market rent tax penalizes excessive pricing, strengthening tenant protections and aligning with housing affordability goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Housing Finance Property Taxes Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2509: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes a three-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to be administered by the Coordinator on Homelessness on designated land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for unhoused women and young children, under the age of ten, to reside and access services. Requires the Coordinator on Homelessness and the Coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services to the designated location. Requires reporting to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes funded pilot program providing housing/services for unhoused women/children, directly addressing homelessness through housing provision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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