STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1592-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2066

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2066, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish another means for a housing project to seek an exemption from certain laws and rules, including those relating to planning, zoning, and construction, that are developed under the various programs of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; NAIOP Hawaii; and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committee finds that existing regulatory barriers further exacerbate the severe shortage of affordable housing in the State. This measure provides another incentive for developers to utilize various programs under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to increase the supply of housing, thereby keeping residents in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that a housing project seeking exemption from laws and rules of the State, in addition to meeting other requirements, may have affordability requirements or income restrictions and must require one hundred percent of the units in the project to be exclusively for qualified residents; 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2066, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2066, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair