Housing

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1732: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kamaaina Homes Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide funding to a county, to be designated by the Corporation, to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homebuyers. Sunsets 6/30/2032. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Kamaaina Homes Program to fund counties purchasing voluntary deed restrictions, securing long-term affordability for homebuyers through HHFDC.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 35: RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Establishes the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Specifies permissible uses of funding and priorities. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to transfer moneys between the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount and the RHRF without legislative approval. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount within Rental Housing Revolving Fund, authorizing HHFDC to allocate funds toward housing programs and priorities, directly advancing affordable housing funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development Renters

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1604: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAppropriates funds for Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group to address housing shortages, directly advancing affordable housing access for a specific workforce.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAddresses agricultural workforce housing shortages, supporting employment standards by improving living conditions for workers.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1056: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

SB 1056 restricts annual rent increases for residential landlords by capping the maximum percentage increase allowed within a 12-month period and limiting how frequently rent can be raised. This bill directly affects residential tenants and landlords in the state by imposing these specific limits on rent hikes. Key provisions include setting a defined annual cap on rent increases and restricting the number of times a landlord may raise rent within a year. The bill is currently pending in the legislative process, having been carried over to the 2026 Regular Session.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRestricts rent increases via annual cap and frequency limits, directly protecting tenants from excessive hikes and promoting housing affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 70: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires eligible applicants of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be either governmental agencies or organizations that are required to use all financial surplus, excluding fees, to develop additional housing in the State. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates RHRF surplus use for housing development, advancing affordable housing through targeted funding of eligible applicants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1261: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a tax credit for landlords who charge below-market rent and assesses an additional privilege tax on landowners who charge above-market rent, under certain conditions. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to determine median market rent for rental units by geographic area for the purposes of the below-market rent tax credit and above-market rent tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit for below-market rent and additional tax on above-market rent, promoting housing affordability through targeted taxation and fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingTax credit for below-market rent directly increases affordable housing access; above-market rent tax penalizes excessive pricing, strengthening tenant protections and aligning with housing affordability goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Housing Finance Property Taxes Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2509: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes a three-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to be administered by the Coordinator on Homelessness on designated land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for unhoused women and young children, under the age of ten, to reside and access services. Requires the Coordinator on Homelessness and the Coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services to the designated location. Requires reporting to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes funded pilot program providing housing/services for unhoused women/children, directly addressing homelessness through housing provision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 534: RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Clarifies the process by which the Hawaii Community Development Authority may approve residential development on certain parcels of Kakaako Makai. Raises the building height limit and the maximum floor area ratio on certain parcels in the area. Requires a certain percentage of the residential units developed on certain parcels to be allocated to households at or below a certain income level in perpetuity, with priority given to certain essential workforce in the area. Limits the sale of residential units developed in certain residential developments to prospective owner-occupants. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to determine a Kakaako Makai association fee to be collected from residents, tenants, and lessees of certain parcels to be deposited into a special account in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Special Fund to fund various services and projects in the Kakaako Makai area. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 20% affordable units for low-income households in perpetuity with workforce priority, directly advancing affordable housing goals per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1306: RELATING TO HOUSING.

HB 1306 establishes the Kupuna Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program through the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. It allows older Hawaii residents (kūpuna) who own homes to convert their home equity into mortgage payments, providing financial stability as they age. The program is administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance Corporation, which will manage eligibility, funding, and participant support. This directly affects homeowners aged 62+ who wish to leverage their home equity without selling their property.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Kupuna Home Equity Conversion Program via HHFDC, providing financial stability for seniors to retain homeownership, directly funding housing security for elderly residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Mortgages Property Development

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 20, 2026

HB 1979: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Shortens the period during which certain judicial proceedings involving environmental assessments and environmental impact statements on actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects must be initiated. Specifies that appeals from environmental courts that involve actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects meet one of the grounds for transfer to the Supreme Court. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyStreamlines judicial process for clean energy project approvals, removing legal delays to advance development.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAccelerates clean energy project approvals by shortening judicial review timelines for environmental assessments, facilitating environmental protection through clean energy development.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingShortens judicial review timelines for affordable housing projects, reducing development delays per bill's focus on expediting environmental assessments for such projects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Affordable Housing

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