STAND. COM. REP. NO. 900-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1679

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1679 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify and address issues related to a condominium association board's authority with respect to calling and authorizing electronic meetings, electronic voting, and mail voting.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Palehua Townhouse Association; Hawaiʻi State Association of Parliamentarians; Kahala Towers AOAO; Associa; and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Board of Directors of the Association of Apartment Owners of Honolulu Tower and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Council of Community Associations and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the law relating to condominium association electronic meetings, electronic voting, and mail voting needs further clarification and guidance. This measure improves and clarifies existing language to match the reality of condominium operations, which will, among other things, make condominium association meetings more efficient, simplify the voting process during states of emergencies, and clarify that electronic voting and mail voting may be utilized for any and all association business.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that proxies are only to be used for any voting conducted at a meeting;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1679, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1679, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair