Housing

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 92: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING NOT COVERED BY THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT AND GOVERNED BY CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS AND PLANNED COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Health to create a working group to study accessibility barriers in multi-family housing managed by condominium and planned community associations, which often fall outside federal Fair Housing Act protections. The study will examine disputes between residents and associations over accessibility modifications, assess how current laws address reasonable accommodations, and evaluate potential state funding options to help offset the costs of necessary upgrades. The working group will include representatives from disability rights organizations, aging services, civil rights agencies, and housing associations, and must submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This initiative aims to gather data on how accessibility gaps affect residents' ability to age in place and identify practical solutions for improving housing accessibility in Hawaii.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes working group to study accessibility barriers in multi-family housing, aiming to improve accommodations and protections for residents under state law.85% confidence

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HCR 82: REQUESTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT BASIC SHELTER STANDARDS TO ENABLE LOW-COST, RAPID-DEPLOYMENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

This bill requests the State Building Code Council to create a new set of basic shelter standards that would allow for low-cost, quickly built housing solutions during emergencies. The proposed standards would permit simpler structures like prefabricated units and temporary shelters that currently don't meet full building code requirements, but would still ensure safety and sanitation. These housing units would only be allowed during declared emergencies and would be limited to government or nonprofit use to prevent commercial exploitation. The bill also establishes a pathway for these temporary units to be upgraded to permanent housing if they later meet full building code standards.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates basic shelter standards for low-cost, rapid-deployment housing during emergencies, expanding affordable housing options and addressing housing needs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes Homelessness Tenant Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 78: REQUESTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL AND THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT, AMEND, OR UPDATE THE STATE BUILDING CODES AND COUNTY BUILDING CODES TO INCORPORATE CERTAIN STANDARDS FOR OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION.

This bill is a House Resolution that requests the State Building Code Council and Hawaii counties to update their building codes to include specific standards for off-site construction methods like modular and prefabricated building. The resolution asks officials to adopt national standards for planning, inspection, and mechanical systems that aim to lower construction costs, speed up project delivery, and improve energy efficiency. It also encourages the creation of a statewide registry for pre-approved building designs to reduce repetitive review work while ensuring local safety requirements are met. The bill is non-binding and serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law, requiring the Council and counties to decide whether to incorporate these standards into their regulations.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly aims to improve energy efficiency through updated building codes for off-site construction, which aligns with advancing energy efficiency standards.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill promotes off-site construction methods to lower costs, speed delivery, and improve energy efficiency, which can increase affordable housing supply.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Building Codes

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 132: URGING STATE AGENCIES THAT OWN OR CONTROL LAND IN WEST MAUI TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE AGGRESSIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FUEL REDUCTION, DEFENSIBLE SPACE, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS MEASURES TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK TO LAHAINA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

This bill urges state agencies that own or control land in West Maui to actively manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risks in the Lahaina area and surrounding communities. It calls for agencies to clear invasive grasses, create defensible space, maintain fuel breaks, and ensure emergency access routes remain open to protect homes, schools, and temporary housing from future fires. The resolution specifically names agencies like the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Department of Education as responsible for implementing these measures on their lands. The bill is based on lessons from the 2023 Lahaina wildfires and recent weather patterns that have increased fuel loads from rapid vegetation growth.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes wildfire risk reduction through vegetation management and fuel reduction, protecting natural resources and communities from environmental hazards.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill protects housing by reducing wildfire risk to homes and temporary housing in Lahaina, preventing property loss and displacement.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Housing Finance Property Development

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in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 59: URGING THE COUNTIES TO ESTABLISH PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE OWNED AND OCCUPIED THEIR RESIDENCE FOR AT LEAST TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

This House Resolution urges Hawaii's county governments to create new property tax relief programs for senior citizens who have lived in their homes for at least ten consecutive years. The proposal specifically targets homeowners aged 65 or older who have owned and occupied their primary residence for a decade, excluding rental or investment properties. It requests that counties add these new programs to existing tax relief options and establish verification procedures to confirm eligibility. The resolution aims to help long-term residents manage rising housing costs while supporting community stability and aging in place.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes property tax relief for senior citizens, reducing tax burden on homeowners aged 65+ who have lived in their homes for 10 years, supporting fiscal relief for vulnerable populations.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes property tax relief for seniors, protecting homeownership and reducing housing cost burden for vulnerable population.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Homeownership Property Taxes Tags Seniors

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 128: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL LITERACY, CREDIT READINESS, AND HOMEOWNERSHIP PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS.

This bill requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to expand and strengthen programs focused on financial literacy, credit readiness, and homeownership preparedness for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. The resolution asks the department to partner with financial educators, credit counselors, and lenders to provide pre-award education, post-award support, culturally responsive materials, and to explore additional funding sources. The department is also required to submit a detailed report to the Legislature by early 2027 outlining program improvements, participant numbers, and measurable outcomes related to lease stability and credit improvement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens financial literacy and homeownership programs for Native Hawaiians, promoting fiscal responsibility and economic stability through expanded support services.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands financial literacy and credit readiness programs for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, enhancing educational access and financial education services.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill strengthens homeownership programs and financial literacy for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, directly supporting housing development and access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 23, 2026

HCR 83: SUPPORTING THE USE OF THE DWELLING UNIT REVOLVING FUND TO FUND PREDEVELOPMENT COSTS FOR ANY GOVERNMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THROUGH INTERIM LOANS TO EXPEDITE THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HAWAII'S RESIDENTS.

This bill is a non-binding resolution that expresses support for using existing funds to help finance early-stage costs for government affordable housing projects in Hawaii. It specifically endorses allowing interim loans from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to cover predevelopment expenses like site analysis, design work, and permit preparation for projects owned or managed by government entities. The resolution states that these loans would be repaid by developers through permanent financing once the project is completed, aiming to speed up the delivery of affordable housing. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create new laws or change regulations but instead communicates legislative support for this funding approach to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill supports using Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to finance predevelopment costs for affordable housing, advancing government affordable housing projects and fiscal management.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds predevelopment costs for government affordable housing projects through interim loans to expedite delivery of affordable housing to residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Development

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 101: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND LAND MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO DEVELOP A COUNTYWIDE HOUSING PATTERN BOOK TO STREAMLINE PERMIT APPROVALS AND REDUCE REGULATORY BARRIERS FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND WELL-DESIGNED HOMES.

This Senate Resolution requests the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Housing and Land Management to create a countywide housing pattern book containing pre-approved residential designs. The book would include various housing types like accessory dwelling units and mid-rise buildings, incorporating culturally appropriate and climate-responsive features such as natural ventilation and lanais. By using these pre-reviewed designs, developers could access streamlined permitting processes, reducing delays and costs while maintaining safety and quality standards. The resolution also asks for a design competition to gather innovative plans and collaboration with architects, builders, and community stakeholders to develop the book. Once completed, the pattern book and its approved designs would be made publicly available for use in housing projects.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates climate-responsive features like natural ventilation and lanais in housing designs, promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill seeks to streamline permitting and reduce regulatory barriers for affordable housing development, directly advancing housing accessibility and construction efficiency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 74: REQUESTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT BASIC SHELTER STANDARDS TO ENABLE LOW-COST, RAPID-DEPLOYMENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

This House Resolution requests the State Building Code Council to create a new set of basic shelter standards that would allow for low-cost, rapidly deployable housing solutions during emergencies. The bill aims to address Hawaii's housing shortages by establishing minimum safety and sanitation requirements for temporary housing like prefabricated units and single-wall homes, which currently cannot be built under standard building codes due to stricter permanent housing requirements. These basic shelter standards would only be used during declared emergency proclamations for natural disasters or other crises, and the housing would be limited to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to prevent profit-driven misuse. The resolution also includes a pathway for these temporary units to be converted to permanent housing if they later meet full building code standards, while requiring consultation with local officials and stakeholders to ensure the standards are appropriate for Hawaii's climate and cultural context.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates basic shelter standards to enable low-cost, rapid-deployment housing solutions, directly addressing housing shortages and expanding affordable housing options.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes Homelessness

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 118: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING STATE-OWNED OR STATE-CONTROLLED WAREHOUSE AND LOGISTICS FACILITIES NEAR PORTS, HARBORS, AND AIRPORTS TO REDUCE MATERIAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLICLY FINANCED HOUSING PROJECTS.

This bill is a House Resolution that asks the Hawaii Department of Transportation to work with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to form a working group. The group will study whether the state should own or control warehouse and logistics facilities near ports, harbors, and airports to lower material costs for publicly funded housing projects. The working group will examine potential sites, cost savings from centralized storage, bulk purchasing options, and whether any laws need to change to implement these ideas. The group must include representatives from transportation, housing agencies, contractors, and legislative committees, and will submit its findings to the Legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill aims to reduce material costs for publicly financed housing projects through state-owned logistics facilities, potentially lowering housing development expenses.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development

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