Housing (Tenant Rights)

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1433: RELATING TO EVICTION MEDIATION.

Beginning 2/5/2026, extends the period for a notice of termination of a rental agreement; requires landlords to engage in mediation and delay filing an action for summary possession if a tenant schedules mediation; and requires landlords to provide specific information in the 10‑calendar-day notice to tenants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Repeals 2/4/2027. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires landlord mediation before eviction, delays summary possession actions, and mandates tenant information - directly strengthening tenant protections in housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 1776: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires the Office of Consumer Protection to publish an accessible, multilingual notice of tenant rights online. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires landlords to provide tenant rights notices, strengthening tenant protections per housing policy indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 154: RELATING TO EVICTION RECORDS.

Requires that all court records of any eviction proceeding be sealed within specified timeframes upon resolution of the proceeding. Authorizes the court to seal certain eviction records prior to the expiration of these timeframes upon motion by a tenant who is able to demonstrate that certain conditions apply. Requires the clerk of the court to provide access to sealed eviction records to the tenant. Makes it a discriminatory practice to require a person to disclose a sealed eviction record as a condition of certain real property transactions. Prohibits discrimination in real property transactions against a person with a sealed eviction record.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingSeals eviction records to prevent housing discrimination and protect tenant rights, directly addressing tenant protections in housing access per bill's anti-discrimination clause.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1473: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires certain landlords to provide a specified notice to a tenant regarding the tenant's potential right to purchase the property, under certain conditions. Allows tenants, families, local governments, affordable housing nonprofits, and community land trusts forty-five days to match or beat the best bona fide offer to buy an eligible affordable housing property. Establishes conveyance tax rates for the sale of eligible affordable housing properties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes conveyance tax rates for affordable housing sales, directly addressing tax policy to facilitate tenant purchases and support affordable housing programs.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates tenant notice and 45-day right to match purchase offers for affordable housing, strengthening tenant rights and preserving affordable housing stock.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Tenant Rights

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 416: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits rental agreements from prohibiting tenants from keeping pet animals in dwelling units, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits rental agreements from banning pets, strengthening tenant rights under residential landlord-tenant code.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2347: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

SB 2347 requires the Office of Consumer Protection to regularly publish clear, multilingual notices explaining tenant rights under the residential landlord-tenant code. This bill directly affects renters by ensuring they receive accessible information about their legal protections, particularly in communities with limited English proficiency. Key provisions mandate that these notices be published periodically and made available in multiple languages to improve tenant awareness. The law would take effect on July 1, 2050, but is currently pending committee review.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates landlords provide tenants with multilingual rights notices, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 1325: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires developers developing an affordable housing project under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to assist certain tenants who are subject to displacement or eviction by the proposed project by: granting those tenants the right of first refusal of a comparable unit in the housing project or establishing a fund to provide relocation benefits and offer assistance; providing information, either directly or through a contracted service, on how to obtain assistance and exercise the right of first refusal; and establishing procedures to track and maintain communication with those tenants. Establishes consequences for a developer's noncompliance. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates relocation assistance and right of first refusal for displaced tenants in affordable housing projects, strengthening tenant protections under HHFDC programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 306: RELATING TO THE LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord from recovering possession of a dwelling unit from a tenant if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Caps a tenant's liability for rent if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Provides remedies for retaliatory evictions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits evictions for habitability issues and caps tenant liability, directly strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1324: RELATING TO LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES.

Requires the Judiciary to contract for legal services for residential tenants in actions or proceedings for possession under certain circumstances. Authorizes attorneys, paralegals, and law students to provide legal services to residential tenants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for tenant legal services, directly funding a public service under government spending.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides legal services to tenants in eviction disputes, strengthening tenant protections and access to representation per bill's explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 831: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStrengthens tenant rights by enabling recovery of attorney fees for successful violations of landlord-tenant code, directly advancing tenant protection within housing policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

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