Housing

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2819: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Prohibits certain entities from purchasing single-family residences in the State of Hawaii. Requires reports and certifications to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes penalties and enforcement authority.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill prohibits certain entities from purchasing single-family homes to prevent market displacement, directly protecting affordable housing availability in Hawaii. This aligns with support indicators for protecting housing access.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 831: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStrengthens tenant rights by enabling recovery of attorney fees for successful violations of landlord-tenant code, directly advancing tenant protection within housing policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1208: RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.

Establishes the Homeless Services Special Fund. Allows counties to apply for matching funds from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund for certain housing projects. Increases the conveyance tax rates for certain properties. Establishes conveyance tax rates for multifamily residential properties. Establishes new exemptions to the conveyance tax. Allocates collected conveyance taxes to the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund, Homeless Services Fund, and Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Amends allocations to the Land Conservation Fund and Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates conveyance tax revenue to homeless services and affordable housing funds, directly funding essential public programs through targeted tax increases.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Homeless Services Fund and Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund, allocating conveyance taxes to these housing support programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Sales Tax Affordable Housing Homelessness Property Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1134: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires certain landlords to provide a specified notice to a tenant regarding the tenant's potential right to purchase the property, under certain conditions. Allows tenants, families, local governments, affordable housing nonprofits, and community land trusts forty-five days to match or beat the best bona fide offer to buy an eligible affordable housing property.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires landlords to notify tenants of purchase rights and allows 45-day matching period for affordable housing, protecting tenant access and promoting retention of affordable units.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1723: RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Specifies the conditions upon which the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation may transfer moneys from within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to a subaccount and between subaccounts of the revolving fund. Authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be used to provide any and all forms of financing. Expands the funding priorities of, and appropriates funds into and out of, the Mixed-Income Subaccount. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects conveyance tax revenues to Mixed-Income Subaccount for housing projects, funding essential affordable housing through tax revenue allocation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill revises funding priorities for mixed-income housing projects, appropriates funds, and authorizes tax revenue transfers to expand affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Housing Finance

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 831: RELATING TO ANTITRUST.

Prohibits the use of algorithmic price-setting in Hawaii's rental market. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop and undertake a public education program regarding the prohibition.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits algorithmic price-setting in rental market, preventing potential tenant exploitation and strengthening tenant protections per bill summary.90% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 40: RELATING TO STATE FINANCES.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to utilize revenue bonds when securing a line of credit or other instrument of indebtedness for the Bond Volume Cap Recycling Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill authorizes HHFDC to use revenue bonds for housing finance program, enabling funding for housing development and affordability initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1098: RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH.

SB 1098 appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and services for unaccompanied homeless youth. It directly affects young people without a parent or guardian living on the streets or in unstable housing. The key provision is the dedicated funding allocation to enable immediate access to safe shelter, counseling, and support services through the state's human services agency. This bill creates a concrete policy change by ensuring state resources are specifically directed toward meeting the urgent needs of this vulnerable population.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds emergency shelter/services for homeless youth, directly addressing housing instability and providing immediate support per bill's dedicated appropriation for safe shelter access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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

Sub-Topics Land Use Property Development Zoning Public Transit

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1218: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes and appropriates moneys for a return-to-home program within the Department of Human Services to provide travel expenses and relocation assistance for eligible persons who wish to return to their home states. Requires the Department to develop and implement a public information campaign related to the State's residency requirements and return-to-home program.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds relocation assistance for homelessness program, directly addressing housing instability through DHS return-to-home initiative.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track