Informing the Legislature that on July 5, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2742 HD1 SD2 CD1 (ACT 202).

This bill establishes a pre-litigation mediation process for landlords and tenants in Hawaii to handle rent disputes after wildfire-related eviction protections expire. It requires landlords to give tenants at least fifteen days' written notice before filing for eviction and mandates that landlords attempt to resolve the issue through a state-funded mediation center if the tenant seeks help. Additionally, the law restricts landlords from filing eviction cases for unpaid rent unless the amount owed exceeds a specific threshold based on how much time has passed since the emergency moratorium ended. Both parties are responsible for their own legal costs related to this mediation stage, aiming to reduce the number of immediate eviction lawsuits.