This bill officially notifies the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed HB2801 into law on May 30, 2024. The law updates the state's commercial property assessed financing program, known as C-PACER, to allow condominium associations to access these loans for energy efficiency and safety improvements. It also shifts the administrative responsibility for the program from individual counties to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and clarifies the definition of commercial property for these loans.
This bill allows Hawaii counties to take on the same powers as the state Housing Finance and Development Corporation to build, finance, and manage mixed-use developments and affordable housing projects. By amending state law, the measure enables counties to issue their own bonds, acquire land, provide loans, and guarantee mortgages to support these initiatives, while explicitly prohibiting them from causing the state to issue general obligation bonds for these projects. The legislation also ensures that county housing projects receive the same tax exemptions as state projects and must prioritize walkability where possible. Directly affected parties include county governments, which gain new tools to address local housing needs, and developers or lenders who may partner with counties on these housing efforts.
This message from the Governor informs the Hawaii Legislature that SB2600 was signed into law on May 30, 2024. The bill amends state statutes to update the methods by which official documents can be delivered in condominium matters. It explicitly adds electronic mail and other commission-prescribed methods to the list of acceptable delivery options alongside personal delivery, registered mail, and fax. This change allows for more modern and flexible communication channels for condominium-related legal notices.
This document is a procedural message from the Governor of Hawaii to the Legislature informing them that he signed HB2790 into law on May 28, 2024. The bill requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to submit a report to the legislature by May 2026 analyzing whether the state should continue funding its housing loan and mortgage programs. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not change any existing housing policies but instead establishes a future review process.
This bill, signed into law on May 28, 2024, directs counties with populations of 500,000 or fewer to use revenue from state tax surcharges for specific public needs. The funds must be allocated toward public transportation systems like buses and roads, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and housing infrastructure costs, provided that housing funds are not passed on to developers. For larger counties exceeding 500,000 residents, the definition of allowable capital costs for transit projects is expanded to include certain non-recurring service and overhead expenses. The changes to these rules take effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed HB1760 into law on May 28, 2024, establishing a new bond volume cap recycling program for affordable rental housing. The law authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the state's counties to use existing tax-exempt bond limits to secure new loans, allowing them to repay old bonds and reissue funds for additional housing projects without spending their original bond caps. Additionally, the bill updates the allocation of the state's annual bond ceiling, specifying exact percentages for the state and each of the four counties. These changes are designed to provide a legal framework for leveraging federal tax incentives to create more affordable housing opportunities in Hawaii.
This bill updates Hawaii's residential landlord-tenant code to establish stricter timelines for landlords to address health, safety, and habitability issues. It requires landlords to begin repairs within seven days of official notification regarding health or safety violations and within three days for urgent issues like plumbing or electrical failures. If landlords fail to act, tenants are authorized to perform the necessary repairs themselves and deduct up to $1,000 or one month's rent from their payment, provided they submit receipts to the landlord. The law also mandates that landlords must inform tenants of any unavoidable delays and propose a new start date for the work. These changes directly affect landlords and tenants by clarifying their responsibilities and remedies when rental properties are not maintained properly.
This bill establishes a task force within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to update Hawaii's State Planning Act. The task force will create a two-year plan to review existing state goals, align state and county strategies, and address equity concerns for low-income communities. By appropriating funds for this effort, the legislation aims to ensure the state's long-range development plans reflect current economic and social needs.
This bill updates the membership of the Hawaii Interagency Council for Transit-Oriented Development by replacing the director of law enforcement with the director of corrections and rehabilitation. The change aims to align the council's composition with the reorganization of state departments and ensures that the official responsible for correctional facilities is included in planning discussions for state buildings in transit areas. The legislation amends the Hawaii Revised Statutes to formally list the director of corrections and rehabilitation as a council member while removing the previous role of the director of law enforcement.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that the Governor signed Act 031 into law on May 28, 2024, which aims to address the state's housing shortage by empowering local counties to issue affordable housing credits. The key provision amends state statutes to allow counties to develop, construct, and provide low- and moderate-income housing using the same powers as the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, including the ability to acquire land through purchase, lease, or eminent domain. Additionally, the law grants these county projects exemptions from general excise and receipts taxes, matching the tax treatment previously available to state housing projects. While the bill cites rising interest rates and construction costs as reasons for the housing crisis, its primary function is to enable counties to directly participate in affordable housing production through specific financial and operational authorities.
This message informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed SB2834 into law on May 28, 2024, adding new rules to the state landlord-tenant code regarding what happens when a tenant dies. The bill requires landlords to notify a designated representative, the tenant's estate, or a family member about the death and the upcoming termination of the lease. It also outlines specific steps for handling the deceased tenant's personal property, allowing the landlord to sell, store, or donate items after the lease ends if no one claims them. Additionally, the law grants authorized representatives access to the rental unit within fifteen days to retrieve the deceased tenant's belongings.
This legislative message informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed SB2133 into law on May 28, 2024. The bill amends state housing statutes to expand the financial tools available to the state's housing corporation. Specifically, it allows the corporation to issue bonds secured by a wider variety of income sources, including revenues from housing projects, federal grants, loans to mortgage lenders, and general corporate earnings. Additionally, the law clarifies that housing projects funded under this chapter count as official undertakings for state purposes. These changes aim to provide more flexibility in financing housing initiatives without altering the core mission of the agency.
