SB 1200 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Summary

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. Establishes a position. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2030. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1200 → SB1200_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes a regulatory sandbox program to accelerate workforce housing development in Hawaii by allowing developers to test innovative solutions with relaxed permitting and regulatory requirements. The legislation creates an advisory council to oversee the program and appropriates $5 million for its operation, aiming to address the state's housing shortage by potentially creating over 10,000 units.

Scope change

The bill introduces a new regulatory framework specifically for workforce housing that was not previously established, creating a temporary program with defined start and end dates.

SCOPE

Establishes a new Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to test innovative housing solutions with relaxed regulations.

REQUIREMENT

Creates an advisory council with 12 members representing various state agencies, counties, and private sector stakeholders to provide guidance and oversight.

FISCAL

Appropriates $5,000,000 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to fund the program's establishment, operation, and administrative costs.

TIMELINE

Sets the program effective date as July 1, 2025, with automatic repeal on June 30, 2030.

ELIGIBILITY

Defines workforce housing as units targeted for households earning 60-140% of area median income, with requirements for affordability, sustainability, and reduced construction timelines.

ENFORCEMENT

Requires participating developers to maintain affordability for 10 years, prohibit short-term rentals, ensure full-time occupancy by legal residents, and require at least one full-time employed adult per household.

REPORTING

Mandates the Corporation to submit annual reports to the legislature 20 days before each regular session, detailing project outcomes and recommendations.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 334) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Aquino.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HOU, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors