STAND. COM. REP. NO. 647

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 814

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 814, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the counties to adopt ordinances by July 1, 2024, to allow religious institutions, educational institutions, and medical institutions to build housing units on land that the institutions own for purchase in fee simple or use by the institutions, their employees, or their contractors, regardless of current zoning restrictions; and

(2) Require institutions to own housing units for thirty years before offering the housing units for sale.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawai‘i Yimby and one individual. 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 received comments on this measure from Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the development of workforce housing on lands owned by certain institutions may address the State's affordable housing inventory. This measure provides the counties with flexibility to consider creative solutions to address affordable housing.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider whether the contents of this measure are beyond the scope of the measure's title.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 814, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair