HawaiiHawaii housing corporation would speed reviews for selected housing projects
The Hawaii housing corporation would select projects across the counties, with at least half their homes set aside for households in a stated income range.
What it does
The Hawaii housing corporation would run a five-year pilot and could use revolving fund money to prepare selected housing projects or make temporary construction investments.
Agencies would prioritize reviews for selected housing projects, with deadlines for some decisions and county exemptions that would not need county legislative approval.
The corporation would give lawmakers yearly updates on pilot projects, spending, homes, and obstacles to delivery.
Argument forPriority reviews and firm deadlines could help selected housing projects move forward sooner, including projects with homes for households in the stated income range.
Argument againstUsing revolving fund money for project preparation and construction could leave less money available for other housing needs while the investments are outstanding.
More detail
The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation would run a five-year housing pilot and could use revolving fund money for project preparation and temporary construction investments. The pilot covers projects designated by the corporation's board in Hawaii's counties. The corporation's board must designate and approve a project before fund money is used for preparation work. Construction investments must be temporary and structured for repayment or conversion into assets for the revolving fund. Projects must have adequate water, sewer, and transportation capacity; sites not zoned for housing may qualify through authorized exemptions. At least half of each project's homes must be for households earning 60% to 140% of area median income, and the corporation must designate at least one project in each county. The corporation's authority to designate new projects would end June 30, 2031. Projects designated before July 1, 2031, would remain under these rules until completion.
State and county agencies would cooperate on pilot projects and prioritize their permit, license, and approval reviews; the corporation's executive director could convene an agency review team. These rules apply to state and county agencies reviewing designated pilot projects, and to related contracts and county exemptions. Historic preservation reviews must be completed within 60 days after a complete application arrives; if no decision is issued by then, the application is treated as approved. For certain health reviews, the department may take more time if it gives written reasons before the 60-day period ends; without those reasons, the application must be prioritized for immediate final action. County planning officials must grant necessary exemptions under section 201H-38 without county legislative approval and process them within 45 days. The law calls this a ministerial act, meaning officials do not make a discretionary choice. Contracts for project services, construction, and development need board approval and are exempt from chapter 103D. Historic preservation reviews are due within 60 days after a complete application arrives. Health reviews have a 60-day period, with the stated extension rule. County officials have 45 days after receiving an exemption request.
The Hawaii housing corporation would report to the Legislature on pilot projects, spending, homes, agency coordination, obstacles, and whether the program should continue. The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation would report to the state Legislature. Reports must include projects designated, approved, or advanced during the prior fiscal year, fund spending and repayment status, and housing numbers by county and income range. Reports would be due no later than 20 days before the regular sessions in 2027 through 2032.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 9Act 216, 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1318).Latest
- Jul 9Act 216, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1318).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Iwamoto voting no (2) and none excused (0).Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- Apr 29The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 29The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 42-26).
- Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 42-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.
- Apr 27Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.
- Apr 24Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.
- Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.
- Apr 21House Conferees Appointed: Evslin, Miyake Co-Chairs; Cochran.
- Apr 21Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).Minor
- Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Chang Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Rhoads.
- Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).Minor
- Apr 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 511).Minor
- Apr 10Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
- Apr 10Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).Minor
- Apr 9Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2018-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
- Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 25Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1419-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Cochran, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).Minor
- Mar 20The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 17Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Friday, 03-20-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 10Referred to HSG, FIN, referral sheet 15Minor
- Mar 6Pass First ReadingMinor
- Mar 5Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 25) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
- Feb 24Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2712) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Feb 2448 Hrs. Notice 03-05-26.
- Feb 19The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Feb 11Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2192) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Feb 11Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
- Feb 5The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
- Jan 28Referred to HOU, WAM.Minor
- Jan 23Introduced.Minor
- Jan 23Passed First Reading.Introduced
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