STAND. COM. REP. NO. 22-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2218

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2218 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, to increase the loan limit for direct loans provided by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from fifty percent to seventy-five percent of the maximum single residence loan amount allowed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Federal Housing Administration.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, authorizes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide direct loans to beneficiaries for the repair, maintenance, purchase, and erection of a dwelling and related permanent improvements. However, with the increase in construction and other development related costs, native Hawaiian beneficiaries are in need of more financial assistance to ensure they can remain in Hawaii. This measure increases the loan limit for a single residence loan amount that can be taken out be beneficiaries, which will enable more beneficiaries to either purchase a home or make improvements to their existing home.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2218, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2218, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair