STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1853-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 183

S.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.C.R. No. 183, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCE APPLICABLE LAWS AGAINST LANDLORDS WHO ARE ENDING RENTAL AGREEMENTS TO HOUSE FEMA‑ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH THE DIRECT LEASE PROGRAM OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of the Attorney General to investigate and enforce applicable laws against landlords who are ending rental agreements to house individuals who are eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency's Direct Lease Program or the Department of Human Services Rental Assistance Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Aloha United Way and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the August 2023 Maui wildfires devastated the County of Maui, with over two thousand structures destroyed, of which roughly one thousand five hundred were residential structures, displacing thousands of households. The federal government and State have been working to ensure that all those displaced have a safe and clean environment to reside in while they search for a more permanent living situation. However, incidents have been reported on Maui where landlords are not renewing lease agreements with existing tenants to take advantage of financial support being offered by the federal government and State. While your Committee acknowledges the need to house displaced individuals directly affected by the wildfires, this should not be done through the displacement of existing tenants.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 183, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair