STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1219-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2337

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2337, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to, until June 30, 2028, expand the counties' authorization to exercise the same powers as the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for purposes of developing, constructing, financing, refinancing, or providing low- and moderate-income housing projects and mixed-use developments.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Housing of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Housing and Community Development of the County of Hawai‘i; Pacific Resource Partnership; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, the counties are authorized to exercise the same powers as the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for developing, constructing, and providing low- and moderate-income housing; however, they are not authorized to use affordable housing bonds to develop mixed-use developments. This measure seeks to provide the counties with the same authority as the Corporation with respect to mixed-use development, which will enable the counties to implement their general plans and create communities that offer residents a choice of housing options that are in close proximity to schools, recreation, and commercial centers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the sunset date; 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 S.B. No. 2337, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2337, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair