SB 1610 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO OHANA ZONES.

Summary

Establishes the Ohana Zones Program as a program within the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to exempt ohana zones projects from general excise taxes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1610_SD1 → SB1610_SD2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision shifts the legislative sponsor and updates internal tracking metadata. Substantively, it renumbers sections, clarifies that 'kauhale' projects must connect to public utilities despite allowing off-grid technology, and adds a specific cap on general fund spending for kauhale projects. The sunset date remains 2026, but the effective date is now December 31, 2050, with a provision to reenact a specific tax exemption section before repeal.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding utility infrastructure for communal housing ('kauhale') was narrowed by requiring connections to public utilities, and the definition of 'kauhale' was expanded to include affordable communal housing with specific rent limits.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata including sponsor name (Lance Ching), page numbers, and internal revision identifiers.

TIMELINE

Reordered section numbers (e.g., Section 3 became Section 2) and adjusted the effective date text while maintaining the 2026 sunset.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the off-grid technology clause to explicitly require 'kauhale' projects to have connections to public water, sewer, and electricity.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'kauhale' as a program addressing basic needs and affordable communal housing with rent capped at 30% of area median income.

Updated the definition of 'Ohana zone' to explicitly include 'kauhale'.

FISCAL

Added a specific provision limiting the amount of general funds that can be spent on 'kauhale' projects.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed language from 'may' to 'shall' regarding agency criteria for location evaluation and oversight controls.

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 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1340) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 378) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 559) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 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, Aquino, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fevella.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/HOU, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor