HB 1715 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Summary

Authorizes HHFDC to designate certain for-sale units as permanently affordable housing, subject to certain restrictions. Clarifies that certain resale and occupancy restrictions apply only to projects developed prior to a certain date. Amends the definition of "qualified resident" for the purposes of HHFDC housing development programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1715_HD1 → HB1715_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill version updates the legislative metadata to reflect its status as a Senate Draft (SD1) instead of a House Draft (HD1). Substantively, it clarifies the bill's purpose by explicitly stating it replaces existing ten-year buyback requirements and expands the scope to apply to a majority of units developed under specific housing statutes. It also adds detailed eligibility criteria for buyers, requiring them to not own a majority interest in other land, and modifies foreclosure provisions to automatically extinguish affordability restrictions when a unit is lost to foreclosure.

Scope change

The bill's scope is expanded to explicitly cover a majority of units developed under section 201H-38 and to replace existing ten-year buyback requirements under section 201H-47.

SCOPE

The bill now explicitly states it applies to a majority of units developed under section 201H-38 and replaces existing ten-year buyback requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility criteria require eligible buyers to not own a majority interest in fee simple or leasehold lands suitable for dwelling purposes.

REQUIREMENT

Restrictions on permanently affordable units are modified to automatically extinguish upon foreclosure, protecting the rights of mortgage holders.

TECHNICAL

Metadata was updated to reflect the transition from House Draft (HD1) to Senate Draft (SD1) status.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3274) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

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, Elefante, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HOU, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 41).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 577-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Pierick; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSG, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

17 primary · 0 co-sponsors