SB 3276 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Summary

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop and implement a plan to reduce the State's total homeless population by at least twenty-five per cent by 1/1/2028, measured against the 2026 point-in-time count. Requires any funding request by the Office after fiscal year 2026-2027 to be based on the plan. Requires the appointment of the Coordinator on Homelessness to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services for the funding of the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program under the Ohana Zones Program, and for the expenses of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a survey on statewide homelessness. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB3276 → SB3276_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was fundamentally rewritten to shift focus from specific program funding to establishing a strategic plan and new leadership structure. The original text allocated money for a medical respite program and a homeless survey, while the new version mandates a 25% reduction in homelessness by 2028 and requires the Governor to appoint a Coordinator on Homelessness with Senate approval.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from funding specific existing initiatives to creating a new statewide office function (Coordinator on Homelessness) and imposing a strict performance target for reducing the homeless population.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement for the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop and implement a plan to reduce the homeless population by at least 25% by January 1, 2028, using the 2026 count as the baseline.

Added a new requirement that the Governor must appoint a Coordinator on Homelessness, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, to oversee the chapter.

FISCAL

Removed specific dollar amounts for a medical respite program in Honolulu and a homeless outreach program, replacing them with blank appropriation lines.

Modified the funding allocation for the University of Hawaii's homeless survey to be administered by the Department of Human Services instead, though the amount remains blank.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2026, to an unspecified date in the new version, while retaining the 2028 deadline for the homelessness reduction goal.

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 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2639) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS/EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors