STAND. COM. REP. NO. 119-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1701

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 Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1701 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit minimum off‑street parking requirements for new developments or redevelopment projects located in transit‑oriented development infrastructure improvement program areas.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Hawaiʻi YIMBY; Housing Hawaiʻi's Future; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Holomua Collaborative; Hawaiʻi Bicycling League; AARP Hawaii; and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that outdated off‑street parking mandates can significantly raise development costs and hinder housing production in areas where transit access reduces the need for car‑dependent design. Your Committee further finds that counties have recognized the benefits of eliminating parking minimums in transit‑rich neighborhoods, including improved safety, reduced congestion, and greater support for walkable, transit‑oriented communities. By prohibiting minimum parking requirements in transit‑oriented development infrastructure improvement program areas, this measure enables higher‑density, transit‑supportive housing that better aligns with the State's Transit-Oriented Development Council's Strategic Plan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for 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 H.B. No. 1701, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1701, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair