REQUESTING A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL HOUSING ALLOWANCES ON RENTAL MARKET CONDITIONS IN HAWAII.

This Senate Resolution requests a study to examine how federal housing allowances, such as the Basic Allowance for Housing, affect rental market conditions in Hawaii. The study will be conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and will focus on areas with significant military presence. Key areas of investigation include analyzing the relationship between housing allowance rates and rental prices, assessing whether prices cluster near military installations, and evaluating the potential impact on local working families. The study will also measure the economic benefits of federal housing expenditures to provide a balanced assessment of both costs and benefits. The final report is to be submitted to the Legislature by the end of 2026.