HB 1739 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Summary

Requires the development of transit-supportive densities to be allowed in any county-designated transit-oriented development area. Prohibits the counties from enacting an ordinance, rule, regulation, development standard, zoning provision, or other land use control that restricts the development of transit-supportive densities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB1739 → HB1739_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden its scope by replacing references to specific 'infrastructure improvement program areas' with a broader category of 'county-designated transit-oriented development areas.' This change allows counties to designate any area as a transit zone, rather than being limited to areas with existing infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the effective date was moved to July 1, 3000, and the bill was renumbered to reflect House District 1 amendments.

Scope change

The bill's applicability expanded from specific 'transit-oriented development infrastructure improvement program areas' to any 'county-designated transit-oriented development area,' giving counties broader discretion to designate zones.

SCOPE

Replaced the specific term 'transit-oriented development infrastructure improvement program area' with the broader term 'county-designated transit-oriented development area' to allow counties to designate zones without requiring prior infrastructure improvements.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition clarifying that 'county-designated transit-oriented development area' has the same meaning as defined in section 226-63(d).

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from 'upon approval' to a fixed date of July 1, 3000.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the preemption clause to state that inconsistent county ordinances are void to the extent of the inconsistency with 'this section,' rather than referencing a specific section number.

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

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA/EIG/HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to WLA/EIG/HOU, WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 278).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Olds, Poepoe voting no (2) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Perruso, Poepoe, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 717-26), recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 19, 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, Ichiyama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Belatti, Poepoe, Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Iwamoto; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 111-26) 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 30, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to HSG, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 5

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

16 primary · 0 co-sponsors