HB 1718 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Summary

Limits mixed-use developments to transit-oriented developments. Repeals the sunset date of Act 45, SLH 2024, thereby making permanent the authority of the counties to share in facilitating the development, construction, financing, refinancing, or other provision of mixed-use developments, including low- and moderate-income housing projects, and issue county bonds before 7/1/2033 for this purpose. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Jun 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1718_HD1 → HB1718_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House Draft to a Senate Draft, introducing significant policy changes. The most critical addition is a restriction limiting mixed-use developments to 'transit-oriented developments' that include housing along mass transit routes. Additionally, the sunset date for the bill was extended from 2028 to 2050, and the repeal of the original Act 45 was modified to apply only to bonds issued before July 1, 2033.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed regarding mixed-use developments by adding a requirement for transit orientation, while the timeline for the authority was extended significantly.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that mixed-use developments must be transit-oriented, including housing along a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit system.

TIMELINE

Changed the repeal date of Act 45 from June 30, 2028, to July 1, 2050.

Modified the sunset provision so that the new county powers only apply to bonds originally issued before July 1, 2033.

DEFINITION

Added a vesting clause ensuring projects approved or under binding agreement before July 1, 2033, can proceed to completion even if the authority is later repealed.

TECHNICAL

Removed the specific repeal history of previous Acts (141, 98, 55, etc.) and replaced it with a simplified reference to the current Act 45.

HB1718 → HB1718_CD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill expands county powers to develop, finance, and construct low- and moderate-income housing by granting them authority to issue bonds and make loans similar to the state housing corporation. It introduces a new affordable housing credit system where counties can issue transferable credits for housing units developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or under specific state chapters, which can be used to offset affordable housing requirements on other developments. The bill also restricts mixed-use developments authorized under this program to be transit-oriented and extends the sunset date for these county powers to July 1, 2033.

Scope change

The scope of county authority was expanded to include new financing mechanisms (bonds, loans, mortgage guarantees) and a new credit system for affordable housing, while the applicability of mixed-use development powers was narrowed to require transit-oriented developments.

FISCAL

Counties are now explicitly authorized to issue bonds and appropriate county funds to finance low- and moderate-income housing projects, matching the powers of the state housing corporation.

REQUIREMENT

A new affordable housing credit system was added, allowing counties to issue transferable credits for housing developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or under Chapter 201H, which can be applied to satisfy affordable housing obligations on other projects.

The definition or requirement for mixed-use developments was modified to restrict them strictly to transit-oriented developments.

TIMELINE

The sunset date for county housing powers was extended to July 1, 2033, and the repeal of specific sections was adjusted to apply only to bonds originally issued before that date.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'affordable housing obligation,' 'eligible developer,' 'low- and moderate-income housing project,' 'mixed-use development,' and 'qualified nonprofit housing trust' to clarify the new credit system and program requirements.

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

Amendments

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

May 1, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 117-26).

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 117-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Hashem, Miyake, Yamashita, Cochran; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Wakai, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 612) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on WAM has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 04-09-26 10:55AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.

upper

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/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3296) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-26 3:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HOU/EIG, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 42).

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

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 538-26), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Poepoe.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 113-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kila, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kitagawa.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSG, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors