Housing

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

SB 2866: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.

This bill removes the expiration date for the State Rent Supplement Program, which provides financial assistance to help elderly residents afford housing. By eliminating the sunset clause, the legislation ensures that current and future eligible seniors can continue to receive rent subsidies without the program ending automatically. The measure directly affects older adults who rely on this state-funded aid and the agencies responsible for administering the program. If passed, the change allows the program to operate indefinitely rather than requiring renewal or replacement at a specific future date.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRepeals sunset for Kupuna rent supplement program and appropriates funds to HPHA, directly funding affordable housing for elderly residents.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 7, 2026

SB 2340: RELATING TO COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOMES.

Clarifies that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who meet an intermediate care facility or nursing facility level of care shall not be denied residency in a certified community care foster family home solely because of their disability or enrollment in a specific Medicaid waiver program. Requires the Department of Health to provide technical assistance and training to community care foster family homes. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents denial of housing for Medicaid-eligible disabled individuals, ensuring continued access to healthcare services and protecting patient rights.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination against individuals with disabilities in foster family homes, advancing housing access as per topic indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 2309: RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920.

Amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, to include children of a sibling as qualifying relatives of lessees for the purposes of lease transfer and lease successorship, in the same manner currently allowed for spouses, children, grandchildren, and siblings. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands eligible successors for Hawaiian Homestead leases, strengthening Native Hawaiian housing access and preventing displacement under a dedicated affordable housing program.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 1721: RELATING TO HOUSING.

HB 1721 clarifies insurance, financial protection, and certificate of occupancy requirements to streamline expedited housing permits. It directly affects developers and local housing authorities by reducing bureaucratic delays in permit approvals. The bill establishes temporary rules that would expire on June 30, 2031, and take effect July 1, 2030. This is a procedural change focused on accelerating housing construction timelines through simplified permit processes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStreamlines permits to accelerate housing construction, advancing development timelines per bill summary and subjects like 'Expedited Permits'.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 160: URGING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES' HOMELESS PROGRAMS OFFICE, STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS, AND HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO CREATE A HOUSING LADDER PROGRAM TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GRADUATE INTO UNSUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges four Hawaii state housing agencies to develop a "housing ladder" program designed to help individuals and families move from subsidized housing into non-subsidized, market-rate housing. The proposed program would include support services such as financial counseling, workforce training, transitional rental assistance, and partnerships with private housing providers to facilitate upward mobility. The bill does not create new funding or mandate specific actions but instead requests the agencies to collaborate on creating this program and report their findings to the Legislature by early 2027. This measure aims to address housing shortages by freeing up subsidized housing units for those still waiting while helping current participants achieve greater financial stability.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill urges agencies to create housing ladder program helping individuals graduate to unsubsidized housing with support services, addressing homelessness and housing mobility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 184: REQUESTING THE HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STATE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS TO ALGORITHMIC AND AUTOMATED DECISION SYSTEMS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to study whether current state anti-discrimination laws apply to decisions made by artificial intelligence and automated systems. The bill directs the commission to examine how these technologies are used in areas like hiring, housing, and credit, and to identify any legal gaps or challenges in addressing potential discrimination. The commission must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027, which could lead to new rules or laws if needed. This measure does not change existing laws immediately but initiates an official review of how civil rights protections work in the age of automated decision-making.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill examines anti-discrimination laws for AI in housing, aiming to prevent algorithmic discrimination and strengthen tenant protections.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill examines AI discrimination risks in hiring and employment, strengthening worker protections against algorithmic bias in workplace decisions85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill promotes digital equity by examining how AI systems may cause discrimination, ensuring technology serves all citizens fairly under civil rights protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 11: REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND GENDER IDENTITY IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, EDUCATION, FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS, CREDIT, AND JURY SERVICE.

This Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 11) requests the U.S. Congress to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to add explicit protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It seeks to prohibit such discrimination in key areas including employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service. The resolution directly affects LGBTQ+ individuals who currently lack comprehensive federal protections in these contexts. Hawaii already provides similar state-level protections (through Act 40, 2022), but this resolution urges federal action to create uniform nationwide safeguards.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly requests federal prohibition of housing discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity, directly advancing tenant protections per topic description.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly requests federal prohibition of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity, directly strengthening workplace protections for LGBTQ+ workers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

SB 3219: PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 12 AND 13, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION.

Proposes constitutional amendments to expressly provide that the Legislature may authorize political subdivisions, such as the counties, to issue resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds for specified public works, public improvements, or other actions necessary for housing and community development, and exclude these bonds from determinations of the funded debt of the political subdivisions. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enables counties to issue housing infrastructure bonds without counting against debt limits, directly funding new housing development per constitutional amendment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2803: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires DOH to submit a reorganization plan to the Legislature to consolidate the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions with the Homeless Programs Office under a single centralized entity. Specifies the contents of the reorganization plan and the dates by which the draft and final plan and timeline for reorganization must be submitted to the Legislature. Requires the consolidated entity to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriate funds. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Kauhale Initiative and related capital improvement projects. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds homelessness/housing programs via appropriations and GO bonds, consolidates offices to strengthen solutions. Directly addresses homelessness under housing topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 2557: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to make an annual report on the number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and on housing placement. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to annually report to the Legislature on contracts and plans or proposals to enhance kauhale projects. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to annually report to the Legislature on coordination between the office and any county, state, or federal agencies, or private or nonprofit organizations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates annual reports on homelessness and housing placements to enhance solutions, directly addressing homelessness through accountability and coordination.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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