CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 63-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2834

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2834, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LANDLORD-TENANT CODE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to provide for a process to dispose of the tenant's personal property and surrender the dwelling unit to a landlord when there is a death of a tenant.

Your Committee on Conference finds that, under existing law, there is no explicit guidance for a landlord on how to retake possession of a dwelling unit in the event of a tenant's death. Consequently, landlords have been required to navigate, using their best judgment, the delicate and complex process of reconciling any unpaid rent, handling questions concerning the status of the security deposit, and disposing of the deceased tenant's personal property and belongings from the premises. Your Committee on Conference finds that by establishing a formal statutory process for landlords to resolve matters involving a deceased tenant or tenants, this measure will provide for a more orderly transition and improve outcomes for all parties involved.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of November 1, 2024.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2834, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2834, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Chair
____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Co-Chair