This bill, signed into law as Act 263, updates the compensation and employment rules for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Hawaii Community Development Authority to help them compete for skilled staff. It raises the salary cap for the executive director of the housing finance corporation to 99% of the governor's pay and creates a new deputy executive director role with a salary cap of 95% of the director's pay. Additionally, the legislation exempts these agencies from certain state approval requirements for hiring and job descriptions, while establishing new conditions for their employment contracts. These changes aim to allow the agencies to offer more competitive salaries and streamline their hiring processes to better address Hawaii's affordable housing needs.
The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026 requires that new homes receiving federal assistance include at least one level designed to be accessible for people with mobility challenges. This rule applies to single-family houses, townhouses, modular homes, and ground-floor units in small buildings, provided they are made available for occupancy after one year from the law's enactment. To comply, builders must submit their architectural and construction plans to state or local officials for approval, ensuring the design meets specific accessibility standards before construction is finalized. The bill also establishes legal penalties for violations, allowing private individuals to sue for damages or court orders, such as requiring retrofits, while protecting existing contracts with buyers who were unaware of any violations.
The FIXER Act allows state and local governments to issue tax-free bonds for specific housing projects without being limited by the usual spending caps. This change applies to buildings that need repairs or upgrades, such as low-income housing where the required affordable rental period has ended or federally assisted structures. By removing these limits, the bill aims to make it easier to raise funds for preserving and improving existing residential rental properties. Additionally, the act adjusts rules on buying existing buildings to allow up to 50 percent of bond funds to be used for such acquisitions, up from the previous 15 percent limit.
The Housing Investment Protection Act of 2026 aims to support tenants and protect housing investments by clarifying rules for repairs and expanding affordable housing options. It allows the District of Columbia Housing Authority to temporarily transfer rental assistance to different properties while units undergo renovations and expands eligibility for the Local Rental Supplement Program to include very low-income residents. The bill also updates tenant definitions to clarify who can exercise purchase rights under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act and streamlines the process for the Mayor to buy buildings to preserve affordable units. Additionally, the legislation improves the eviction court process by setting specific hearing timelines and modernizing how eviction notices are delivered to ensure predictability for both landlords and tenants.
This bill establishes a new independent council within the executive branch called the United States Interagency Council on Housing Affordability and Preservation to coordinate federal efforts on affordable housing. The council will be composed of heads from twenty-one different federal agencies, including HUD, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Labor, who will meet at least four times a year to develop a national strategic plan and review housing programs. Its main duties involve creating a unified strategy to increase affordable housing supply, providing technical assistance to states and local governments, and reporting annually to the President and Congress on housing needs and federal actions. The legislation also encourages states to form their own interagency councils and authorizes $4.8 million per year through 2031 to fund the council's operations.
The Grad Student Affordable Housing Act of 2026 directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a program offering rental assistance vouchers to graduate students. To qualify, students must be enrolled in graduate programs and meet specific income limits, which are set at $40,000 for dependents or independent individuals and $80,000 for families, with provisions for cost-of-living adjustments. Selected students receive vouchers that cover 80 percent of the fair market rental cost for their chosen housing. The bill requires students to apply through the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development within one year of the law's enactment.
The Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act of 2026 creates a new tax credit for individuals aged 60 or older to help cover the costs of home modifications that improve accessibility and safety. This credit allows eligible taxpayers to claim up to $10,000 for expenses related to installing features such as wheelchair ramps, widening doorways, adding grab bars, and replacing bathroom fixtures. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with the full benefit available to those earning less than $100,000 annually, and the law also authorizes $500 million in federal grants to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund additional home modification projects for older adults from 2027 through 2031.
The Community Housing Act of 2026 aims to increase the supply and affordability of housing by directing significant new federal funding to programs like the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund. It establishes a new Office of Community Land Use and Zoning within HUD to help states and localities reform restrictive zoning laws that limit housing development. The bill also expands financial support for rural areas, creates a new fund to promote shared equity and community land trusts, and removes a legal cap on the number of public housing units agencies can manage. Additionally, it provides grants to protect tenants from eviction and authorizes low-cost financing options for affordable housing projects.
This bill allows the town of Chatham to use public funds to buy, sell, or place legal restrictions on properties to ensure they are used for year-round living or affordable housing. These restrictions can limit who lives in a home to those earning up to 250% of the area's median income or cap resale prices to keep homes affordable for future buyers. The law also permits the town to attach these rules to deeds or other agreements without needing separate approval from the state's housing department. Ultimately, the measure gives the town more flexibility to create and maintain housing options for permanent residents and low-to-moderate-income households.
