Housing (Homelessness)

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

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 482: RELATING TO ILLEGAL CAMPING.

Clarifies petty misdemeanor penalties for the offense of criminal trespass onto public parks and recreational grounds. Provides for seizure of abandoned or unattended personal property. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a homeless outreach and case management program. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify and restore vacated homeless encampment areas in the State and report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClarifies trespass penalties for camping, expanding criminalization of homeless encampments. Outreach program is secondary, but primary focus strengthens enforcement over reform.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill appropriates funds for DHS homeless outreach program and requires restoration of encampment areas, directly addressing homelessness through funding and program establishment.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1628: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Health to establish a homeless triage and treatment center program to serve homeless individuals and individuals at risk of homelessness with substance abuse issues or mental illness.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for homeless treatment program, directly increasing state budget allocation for public health services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates funds for Department of Health to establish mental illness/substance abuse treatment centers, directly funding healthcare services for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds homeless treatment centers to address homelessness, directly advancing housing stability for vulnerable populations per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Homelessness

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SR 1: AMENDING RULE 16 OF THE RULES OF THE SENATE OF THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION OF 2026, OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.

SR 1 amends Senate Rule 16 to reorganize the Hawaii Senate's standing committees for the 2026 legislative session. It creates three new committees: Higher Education (HRE) for university funding and private higher education (excluding the Hawaii P-20 K-12 initiative), Housing (HOU) for affordable housing and homelessness programs, and Judiciary (JDC) for courts, crime, and civil liberties. The Education committee now excludes higher education funding, retaining oversight of K-12 initiatives like the Hawaii P-20 program. This procedural change adjusts how legislative work is assigned and reviewed within the Senate.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates dedicated Housing committee (HOU) focused on 'affordable housing and homelessness programs,' indicating legislative prioritization of these housing issues.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1101: RELATING TO SAFE SPACES FOR YOUTH PROGRAM.

Makes the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program permanent within the Office of Youth Services. Requires the program to collaborate with all state and county departments that offer services for youth and young adults to coordinate the identification of youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness and placement of these youth at a shelter for homeless youth or young adults. Authorizes the Office of Youth Services to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide shelters for homeless youth or young adults. Requires the Office of Youth Services to submit a report twenty days prior to the regular session of the Legislature.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill permanently establishes shelter program for homeless youth, directly addressing homelessness through coordinated placements and nonprofit contracts, aligning with housing support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2514: 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 Special Fund, and Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Amends allocations to the Land Conservation Fund and Rental Housing Revolving Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases conveyance tax rates to fund Homeless Services and Affordable Homeownership Revolving Funds, directly allocating tax revenue to essential public programs.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund and Homeless Services Special Fund via conveyance tax allocations, directly funding housing initiatives and homelessness services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Homeownership Property Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 645: RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH.

HB 645 allocates state funds to the Department of Human Services specifically for emergency shelter and support services for unaccompanied homeless youth. The bill directly affects young people under 18 who are living without family or guardians and facing immediate housing instability. Key provisions include directing the Department of Human Services to use these funds to provide immediate shelter, counseling, and other essential services to this vulnerable group. The bill is currently pending in the 2025 session, having been introduced and referred to committees but not yet passed.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates state funds for emergency shelter/support services for unaccompanied homeless youth, directly addressing housing instability for vulnerable population.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1007: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish the Interstate Collaboration on Homelessness to discourage sending unsupported homeless individuals to other states and territories. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to enter into formal agreements with other states to reimburse costs associated with relocated homeless individuals. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds to establish Interstate Collaboration on Homelessness, directly allocating state budget resources to fund this program.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes Interstate Collaboration on Homelessness with funding to address homelessness, directly advancing housing solutions through state coordination and reimbursement agreements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1218: 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. Repeals the separate conveyance tax rates for the sale of a condominium or single family residence for which the purchaser is ineligible for a county homeowner's exemption on property tax and 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 Special Fund and general fund. Amends allocations to the Land Conservation Fund and Rental Housing Revolving Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases conveyance tax rates to fund Homeless Services Special Fund and Affordable Housing programs, directly supporting public service funding under Budget & Taxes.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Homeless Services Fund and enables county access to Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund for housing projects, directly funding housing initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Sales Tax State Budget Homelessness Homeownership Property Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1488: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Appropriates funds in addition to the base budget of the Department of Human Services' Homeless Programs Office to address the need for homeless services in the State.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates additional funds to Homeless Programs Office, directly increasing public service funding as per Budget & Taxes topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill appropriates funds to DHS Homeless Programs Office for homeless services, directly funding housing-related assistance to address homelessness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Homelessness

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