SB 27 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Summary

Exempts housing developments that have obtained financing commitments from the State from the requirement to obtain approval from the applicable county council. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB27 → SB27_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from its original Senate version to the Senate District 1 committee version, primarily changing the bill number and metadata to reflect the committee's review. The core policy regarding housing exemptions remains the same, but the language was slightly clarified to specify that the exemption applies to projects with 'financing commitments' rather than just 'financing'.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability is effectively unchanged, as the exemption criteria for county approval remain the same, though the wording was tightened to 'financing commitments'.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and header were updated from 'SB27' to 'SB27 SD1' to indicate it has been processed by the Senate District 1 committee.

The report title was updated to 'State Financing Commitments' to match the change in the exemption language.

The bill description was updated to reflect the new 'financing commitments' language and added a disclaimer that the summary is for informational purposes only.

REQUIREMENT

The exemption clause was clarified to specify that projects must have received a 'financing commitment' from the State to be exempt from county council approval, rather than just 'financing'.

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 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 30) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 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

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to HOU, WAM.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to HOU/EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors