STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1061-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2007

H.D. 3

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 H.B. No. 2007, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow religious institutions, educational institutions, and medical institutions to build dwelling units on lands zoned within the urban district, under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Hawai‘i YIMBY; and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the limited diversity in housing options in the State increases the price of housing, ultimately forcing many residents out of Hawaii. Your Committee believes that by expanding options in the housing market, the State can alleviate price pressure on the private market, prevent the displacement of long-standing residents, and ensure that the State remains accessible across diverse housing prices and forms. This measure would increase the supply of housing by allowing certain institutions to build dwelling units on lands within the state urban land use district, under certain conditions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 H.B. No. 2007, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2007, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair