This bill, signed into law on July 8, 2026, requires Hawaiian counties to conduct specific studies before implementing or changing rules that mandate developers build affordable housing units. Under the new law, any requirement forcing developers to include affordable units is treated legally as a fee, meaning counties must prove the rule is necessary and financially feasible before adopting it. If a county wants to set an affordable housing requirement above ten percent, it must provide written evidence showing the rule is proportional and won't make projects unbuildable. These new rules aim to ensure that policies requiring affordable housing are based on data and do not inadvertently reduce the overall supply of homes available to residents.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on June 8, 2026, updates Hawaii Revised Statutes to regulate residential condominiums within urban redevelopment sites. The primary mechanism restricts these units to owner-occupied residential use, prohibiting them from being rented out or used for any other purpose. To enforce this rule, the bill authorizes the establishment of penalties that can include the forced sale of a unit if it is found to be in violation. Additionally, the legislation modifies how construction contracts are handled, requiring laborers to be paid prevailing wages, and sets specific eligibility requirements for buyers, such as being a qualified resident of the state and not owning other real property.
This bill is a state-level resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to propose a constitutional amendment allowing states to restrict the purchase of residential real estate to their own residents. It directly affects Hawaii by seeking federal action to address the state's housing affordability crisis, which the bill attributes in part to out-of-state buyers purchasing homes for investment or vacation use. The key mechanism is a request for a constitutional change to the Privileges and Immunities Clause, which currently prevents states from limiting property ownership based on residency. If adopted, this amendment would enable states to pass laws reserving home purchases for local residents, though the bill itself does not enact any restrictions directly.
Requires a county conditional use permit for clean and sober homes with 5 or more residents. Requires registration of all clean and sober homes on registry maintained by the Department of Health. Requires DOH to conduct unannounced inspections of clean and sober homes on at least an annual basis.
Repeals allocation of conveyance tax revenues to the rental housing revolving fund. Temporarily suspends selected state income tax credits retroactively to 1/1/2026.
Requires condominium maps for lands within an agricultural district to include a letter signed by an appropriate county official or agency certifying that the condominium property regime will conform to county zoning laws. Requires an application for registration of a project in an agricultural district larger than ten acres to include certain additional information. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
HB 2150 removes a specific tax deduction for real estate investment trusts (REITs). It disallows REITs from deducting dividends they pay to shareholders when calculating their taxable income. This change directly affects REITs by increasing their taxable income and potentially raising their tax burden. The bill creates a concrete policy shift in how REITs are taxed under state law.
SB 1415 repeals existing tenant selection preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans within the State Low-Income Housing Program. This change directly affects veterans and their spouses who previously received priority in housing applications under this program. The bill removes these specific preferences from the program's selection criteria, meaning all applicants will now be evaluated under the same standard process. The legislation does not create new housing benefits or alter other program requirements. This change is part of the program's administrative rules, not a new funding or eligibility provision.
Exempts state and county lands leased after July 1, 2026, for an initial period of not less than 99 years from chapters 516 and 516D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Clarifies the Lieutenant Governor's duties as Secretary of State for Intergovernmental Relations, including working to prevent other jurisdictions from making or supporting travel arrangements to Hawaii for homeless or unhoused individuals.
