The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026 mandates that new single-family homes, townhouses, and small multi-unit buildings receiving federal assistance must include at least one level designed to be accessible for individuals with disabilities. To enforce this, builders must submit construction plans for approval to state or local agencies, which can withhold final occupancy permits if the designs do not meet specific accessibility standards. The law also establishes a legal framework allowing private citizens to sue developers for non-compliance, with potential remedies including damages and court orders to retrofit the property.
The VITAL Act aims to increase the supply of affordable housing that is accessible to people with disabilities and older adults by modifying federal tax credit rules. It achieves this by raising the amount of funding states can receive for low-income housing projects and requiring that at least 40 percent of these funds support buildings specifically designed for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the bill offers a financial bonus for projects located in walkable neighborhoods and mandates that these accessible units meet specific design standards, such as wider doorways and lowered counters. These changes are intended to help residents remain independent in their communities rather than moving to institutional care settings.
The CLUSTER Act amends federal disaster relief laws to officially include "community hardening" as a recognized type of hazard mitigation. This change allows funding for coordinated safety upgrades across multiple private homes in a specific area, rather than treating each property individually. The bill directly affects homeowners and local governments seeking federal assistance to strengthen residential structures against threats like earthquakes or storms. By adding this category to the existing Stafford Act, the legislation expands the scope of eligible projects for disaster preparedness.
The First-Time Home Buyer Empowerment Act allows individuals to use funds from long-term 529 college savings plans to purchase a principal residence without incurring federal income taxes. To qualify, the account must have been open for at least 15 years, the distribution must be used within 60 days, and the total amount withdrawn for this purpose cannot exceed $35,000. If the home is sold or no longer used as a primary residence within five years, the beneficiary must repay the tax benefit, though this penalty decreases by 20 percent for each full year the home is kept. The law also adjusts the overall limit on special rollovers to Roth IRAs to account for these new home purchase withdrawals.
The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026 amends the Higher Education Act to provide specific protections and support services for homeless and foster care youth. The bill requires colleges to designate trained staff liaisons to assist these students with accessing financial aid, housing, and other essential resources, while also mandating that institutions offer priority access to on-campus housing during breaks. Additionally, the legislation expands eligibility for in-state tuition rates at public universities for both homeless and foster care youth and updates Federal TRIO programs to require outreach and barrier removal for these populations. The act also establishes new reporting requirements to track the number of homeless and foster youth served and mandates annual training for university staff.
This message from the Governor informs the Hawaii Legislature that he signed Act 250 into law on July 14, 2026. The bill makes permanent the state rent supplement program for elderly residents, known as kupuna, which provides monthly rental assistance to prevent eviction and homelessness. Previously set to expire in 2026, the program's sunset date was extended to 2028 before this legislation made the funding permanent. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring continued support for approximately 300 at-risk elderly individuals who receive less than $500 per month in aid.
This bill amends the rules for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to address housing shortages by updating how "qualified residents" are defined and what restrictions apply to affordable housing units. It removes certain financial screening requirements that duplicate standard lender checks and allows deed-restricted units to be rented long-term after an initial occupancy period, rather than requiring perpetual owner-occupancy. The law also limits a qualified resident to owning a majority interest in no more than one dwelling property at a time, requiring the sale of any additional property within two years. These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens, prevent vacant investment holdings, and ensure that affordable housing remains available to local residents without unnecessarily restricting household mobility.
This bill extends the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund equity pilot program in Hawaii from June 2028 to June 2031, allowing the state housing finance corporation to continue helping qualified buyers purchase homes at reduced prices. The program specifically targets residents in critical shortage professions like healthcare and education by having the state purchase a share of equity in new homes, which lowers the purchase price for the buyer. Additionally, the law requires that these equity purchases be limited to homes located in transit-oriented development zones, such as areas near major bus routes or transit hubs. By amending existing statutes, the bill ensures that the program's requirements and eligibility rules remain in effect through the extended deadline.
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 as Act 212, establishes a new Rental Housing Revolving Fund to support the development, construction, and preservation of affordable rental housing in Hawaii. The fund will be administered by the state corporation and can be financed through legislative appropriations, conveyance taxes, private donations, loan repayments, and interest. It provides various forms of financial assistance, including loans, equity investments, and credit enhancement, with a specific priority given to projects that include a significant number of very low-income units. The legislation also defines a "mixed-income rental project" as a development offering units to households at different income levels, primarily those earning at or below 140% of the area median income.
