SB 68 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

Summary

Establishes the Department of Housing. Places the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Public Housing Authority within the Department of Housing for administrative purposes. Replaces the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism with the Director of Housing on the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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

SB68 → SB68_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes Hawaii's housing administration by consolidating multiple agencies into a new Department of Housing. It expands the department's responsibilities to include coastal zone management, climate change resilience, and mixed-use development, while transferring the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to the new department for administrative purposes only. The legislation also updates the effective date to July 1, 2050, and clarifies the salary evaluation process for the Superintendent of Education.

Scope change

The bill significantly broadens the scope of the Department of Housing to include coastal zone management, climate change, sustainability, and mixed-use development, and expands the number of agencies consolidated under its administrative umbrella.

SCOPE

Added new responsibilities for the Department of Housing to manage coastal zone permits, land use, climate change resilience, sustainability, and mixed-use development.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the administrative structure by attaching the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to the Department of Housing for administrative purposes only.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from immediate approval to July 1, 2050.

DEFINITION

Revised the description of the housing crisis from a 'crisis' to a 'shortage' in the legislative findings.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a typo in the description of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism by adding the missing 'and' before 'tourism'.

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 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from HOU/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 289) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to HOU/GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor