Housing (Renters)

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2194: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires applicants for rental housing revolving fund moneys to be either organizations that are required to use all financial surplus, excluding fees, to develop additional housing in the State, or government agencies. Effective 7/1/2050.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates rental housing revolving fund access for entities developing housing (nonprofits using surpluses/govt agencies), directly advancing housing development funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 75: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes a working group to revise the State's Qualified Allocation Plan, the prioritization of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund, and the terms of loans made from the RHRF. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes working group to revise RHRF prioritization and terms, aiming to improve housing fund allocation and reporting per housing program goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 638: RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee for a criminal background check or credit report if an applicant provides a certified copy of a criminal background check or credit report. Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee if a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report is available. Requires a landlord or the landlord's agent to provide, upon request, a certified copy of an applicant's criminal background check or credit report.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits landlords from charging fees for criminal background checks in rentals, reducing financial barriers for applicants with criminal records and aligning with reentry reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits landlord application fees for background/credit checks when applicants provide certified copies, reducing tenant costs and strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 347: RELATING TO LANDLORD-TENANT LAW.

Authorizes a tenant to change the date on which the tenant's rent is due by making a one-time payment to cover the period between the original due date and the newly established due date. Clarifies that a landlord may only assess a late fee on any unpaid rent and not the entire monthly rent. Reduces the maximum amount of a late charge for unpaid rent from 8% of the unpaid amount to 5% of the unpaid amount. Specifies that if rent is increased, the landlord may also proportionately increase the amount due as a security deposit; provided that a continuing or renewing tenant shall have at least 30 days to pay the additional amount due. Makes conforming amendments.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingReduces late fees from 8% to 5% and clarifies landlords cannot charge late fees on full rent, strengthening tenant financial protections under housing law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 41: RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.

Allocates ten per cent of conveyance tax collections to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Removes the annual cap on conveyance taxes paid into the Rental Housing Revolving Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates conveyance tax revenue to housing revolving funds, increasing funding for public housing programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates 10% conveyance tax to Dwelling Unit Fund and removes cap on Rental Housing Fund, directly funding housing development and tenant support programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Taxes Renters

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 71: RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Establishes the Mixed-Income Subaccount within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund that targets workforce rental housing projects for persons and families with incomes at or below one hundred forty per cent of the area median income. Authorizes the Director of Finance to transfer funds from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund into the Mixed-Income Subaccount. Appropriates funds into and out of the Mixed-Income Subaccount of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds into workforce housing subaccount targeting low-income renters, aligning with funding essential public services under budget management.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes subaccount funding workforce housing for 140% AMI households, directly advancing affordable housing access through targeted funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 762: 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 to develop additional housing in the State.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires RHRF funds to develop additional housing via mandated surplus use by eligible entities, advancing housing development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Renters

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 635: 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 HousingBill strengthens tenant protections by allowing recovery of attorney fees and damages for landlord code violations, directly advancing tenant rights under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 2188: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires landlords or landlord's agents to accept comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports, if made available by an applicant, and prohibits application fees in such cases. Establishes remedies for refusing to accept those reports. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires landlords to accept reusable tenant screening reports and ban application fees when provided, reducing tenant costs and strengthening tenant protections under residential landlord-tenant law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 525: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Clarifies that dwelling units eligible under the Rent-to-Own Program shall be units that are for sale in fee simple or leasehold on state or county land under a lease with an initial term of no less than ninety-nine years. Increases the time the sale price under the program must remain fixed from five years to ten years. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends fixed sale price period in Rent-to-Own Program from 5 to 10 years, strengthening affordability access and program stability for eligible housing units.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Renters

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