HR 153 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP LANDLORD-TENANT CODE IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING IN HAWAII.

This resolution requests Hawaii's Attorney General to convene a working group by July 2025 to study landlord-tenant laws. The group will identify unused rental housing, evaluate barriers for landlords and tenants (including legal and financial challenges), and recommend code improvements to increase housing supply. It draws on data showing 38.2% of Hawaii residents are renters, as cited in the University of Hawaii's 2024 Housing Factbook. The working group will include tenant advocates, property owners, legal experts, and Judiciary representatives to develop practical solutions.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

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What changed between versions

HR153 → HR153_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the entity responsible for convening the landlord-tenant working group from the Attorney General to the Judiciary. The Attorney General is no longer listed as the chairperson of the working group, and the Judiciary is now the primary body tasked with leading this initiative. This shift moves the oversight of housing code improvements from the executive branch's legal office to the judicial branch, potentially altering how the working group operates and reports its findings.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from requesting the Attorney General to convene the working group to requesting the Judiciary to convene it. The Attorney General is no longer included as the chairperson of the working group.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the responsible entity for convening the working group from the Attorney General to the Judiciary.

Removed the Attorney General as the chairperson of the working group and replaced with the Judiciary as the chairperson.

Updated the recipient of certified copies of the resolution from the Attorney General to the Judiciary.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1859), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Ward excused (4).

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1533) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 22

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors