HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	178
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

urging the department of taxation, in consultation with the department of hawaiian home lands, to conduct a feasibility study on providing tax breaks to individuals who sell property to native hawaiians on the department of hawaiian home lands waitlist.

WHEREAS, the availability of housing in the State, especially for native Hawaiians, has been a long-standing concern; and

WHEREAS, in 2017 the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development released the "Housing Needs of Native Hawaiians" report that compares housing conditions of native Hawaiians to those of other residents of the State; and

WHEREAS, the report found that native Hawaiians are disproportionately represented in the State's homeless population; and

WHEREAS, native Hawaiians continue to make up a large percentage of that State's homeless population; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, native Hawaiians made up forty-four percent of the State's homeless population, with fifteen percent of those homeless individuals reporting that they were on the Department of Hawaiian Home Land's waitlist for a homestead property;

WHEREAS, there are approximately 28,700 native Hawaiian applicants on the Department of Hawaiian Home Land's homestead waitlist; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for more affordable housing for native Hawaiians not only on homestead land, but throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, the State needs innovative solutions to address socio-economic problems faced by native Hawaiians and to put native Hawaiians into affordable housing; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Department of Taxation, in consultation with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, is urged to conduct a feasibility study on providing tax breaks to individuals who sell property to native Hawaiians who are listed on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands waitlist; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Taxation is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Director of Taxation and Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

DOT; DHHL; Tax Breaks; Sellers; Native Hawaiian; Affirmative Action