Housing (Housing Finance)

SB 3176 appropriates state funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) specifically for rehabilitating, remodeling, renovating, and repairing existing public housing units. The bill directly affects HPHA and the residents living in these publicly managed housing properties by enabling physical upgrades to their homes. Key provisions include allocating money for structural repairs, modernizing facilities, and improving living conditions within the current public housing stock, without creating new housing units or changing eligibility rules. This is a funding measure focused on maintaining and enhancing existing affordable housing infrastructure.

Establishes the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Establishes an advisory council within the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to advise on environmental and cultural practices within specific developments. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Education to give reasonable consideration to making all or portions of the facilities of a public school available to housing development for certain employees of the Department when closing the public school. Requires the Department of Education to identify unused public school facilities that may be appropriate for employee housing and inventory suitable grounds available upon public school closure for potential development of employee housing.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in collaboration with other state and county agencies, to study options for and coordinate the development of a shared statewide housing and infrastructure data platform to inform agency decision-making and state housing and infrastructure investments. Includes the development of a model that assesses the fiscal impacts of development and regional infrastructure investments. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent, with modifications. Repeals the sunset date for Act 92, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

Establishes a Vacant Homes Special Fund under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for rental assistance programs. Establishes a general excise tax surcharge on an owner that allows a residential real property to remain vacant for 180 days or more a year. Requires persons who own residential real property, but do not live there, to obtain a general excise tax license. Requires the counties to disclose to the Department of Taxation a list of properties classified as not being occupied by an owner of that property. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to calculate average annual rental value for the basis for the surcharge amount.

Repeals the sunset provision in Act 45, SLH 2024, related to the counties' authorization to develop, construct, finance, refinance, or otherwise provide mixed-use developments.

Removes the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and removes the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Amends exemptions from statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules for certain housing projects developed by the Corporation that satisfy certain conditions, including requirements related to employment, owner-occupancy, and deed restrictions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Clarifies the Rental Housing Revolving Fund statute by defining "mixed-income rental projects" to establish consistent eligibility and use of appropriations for mixed-income rental housing projects. Clarifies that mixed-income rental projects are primarily for households at or below one-hundred-forty per cent of the area median income, allowing participation by higher-income households. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to transfer funds between the Rental Housing Revolving Fund into the mixed-income subaccount to support eligible mixed-income projects, without legislative approval. Repeals the sunset date in Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, thereby making these provisions permanent. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Repeals statutory requirements for certain housing projects to be eligible for loans from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Repeals certain statutory provisions for grants to developers for rental units eligible to be financed in part or in whole by the RHRF. Repeals statutory language requiring the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish an application process for RHRF allocation that prioritized projects meeting certain requirements. Renames the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to the State Housing Revolving Fund (SHRF). Clarifies eligible applicants of the SHRF. Authorizes the HHFDC to use funds from the SHRF for broader housing projects. Establishes the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount within the SHRF. Authorizes the HHFDC to transfer funds between the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount and the RHRF without legislative approval. Amends the criteria and eligibility requirements for applicant developers seeking assistance from the SHRF. Requires the HHDFC to maximize the amount of housing built that utilizes loans from the SHRF by prioritizing projects with the shortest projected loan repayment terms that produce the highest number of units, per dollar, per year. Repeals all other priorities and preferences for projects utilizing the RHRF. Establishes a working group to revise the State's Qualified Allocation Plan, the prioritization of the SHRF, and the terms of loans. Requires a report to the Legislature. Allocates ten per cent of conveyance tax collections to the DURF. Removes the annual cap on conveyance taxes paid into the SHRF.