Establishes the Ohana Zones Program as a program within the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to exempt ohana zones projects from general excise taxes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Establishes the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force to conduct a study, subject to legislative appropriation, to assess the viability of housing development in transit-oriented development zones or other areas on state or county lands. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Expands exemptions from school impact fee requirement for certain housing developments. Clarifies procedures and timing for land dedication or fee‑in‑lieu agreements for new residential developments. Repeals the sunset and reporting requirements under Act 268, SLH 2025. Restructures certain school impact fee accounts. Preserves existing educational contribution agreements. (CD1)
Authorizes a county to reduce the aggregate zoned residential capacity within the county only if the county offsets that reduction by increasing zoned residential capacity elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity in the county. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
HB 2444 increases the state tax credit available to low-income household renters, raising the amount from $50 to $100 for each tax exemption claimed by the taxpayer. This change directly affects renters who qualify as low-income and claim tax exemptions, providing them with greater financial relief through their state tax return. The key provision is the specific dollar amount increase per exemption, making the credit more substantial for eligible households. The bill does not alter eligibility criteria or introduce new administrative requirements.
Establishes an organizational, tax, and regulatory framework for limited-profit housing associations. Establishes the Limited-Profit Housing Council to oversee limited-profit housing associations. (SD1)
This Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 3) requests Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to study whether using mezzanine loans could help increase housing production in the state. Mezzanine loans are a financing tool that could allow housing developers to secure funding with less required equity, potentially lowering costs and accelerating project timelines. The study aims to evaluate if this approach could address Hawaii's severe housing shortage and improve the efficiency of state housing funds. DBEDT must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. (Note: This is a study request, not a law implementing mezzanine loans.)
HB 2541 prohibits discrimination against individuals based on their immigration status. It directly affects people with diverse immigration statuses, including undocumented individuals, in contexts like employment, housing, and public accommodations. The bill establishes a clear legal prohibition against using immigration status as a basis for discriminatory actions. This represents a concrete policy change to protect affected individuals from such discrimination.
Requires the Director of Finance to consider, before the selection of a depository for the state treasury, the beneficial effects to the State of using depositories within the State, including but not limited to lending at favorable terms for the creation of certain affordable housing units. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)
Exempts affordable housing projects that are financed by a nonprofit community development financial institution certified by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation as utilizing less than a certain amount from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund from prevailing wage provisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
