SB 2232 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO A TINY HOME GRANT PILOT PROGRAM.

Summary

Establishes a three-year Tiny Home Grant Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Requires counties and nonprofit organizations that are awarded a grant to submit an annual report to the HHFDC. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds and establishes a position. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2232 → SB2232_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a general grant pilot program to a specific initiative focused on establishing tiny home villages. Key changes include adding a strict definition requiring these villages to be used exclusively as primary residences, prohibiting transient or second-home use. The funding section was modified to allow for a specific appropriation amount to be filled in later, while also allocating $170,000 to create a new full-time housing development specialist position. The bill's title and summary were updated to reflect the addition of this new job role.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed to specifically address tiny home villages rather than a general pilot program, adding restrictions on their use as primary residences only.

DEFINITION

Added a new requirement stating that tiny home villages must be exclusively for residential use as primary residences and cannot be used for transient accommodations or second homes.

FISCAL

Changed the funding language to leave the specific grant amount blank for future determination while adding a separate $170,000 appropriation for a new housing development specialist position.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) housing development specialist II position with benefits to support the program.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title and summary to reflect the new position and specific focus on tiny home villages.

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

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from HOU/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2457) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 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

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Fevella.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HOU/EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors