STAND. COM. REP. NO. 538-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1718

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the sunset date of Act 45, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024 (Act 45), thereby making permanent the authority of the counties to share in facilitating the development, construction, financing, refinancing, or other provision of mixed-use developments, including low- and moderate-income housing projects, and issue county bonds for this purpose.

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 Housing and Land Management of the City and County of Honolulu; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaiʻi; LeadingAge Pacific West; AARP Hawaiʻi; Housing Hawaiʻi's Future; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the existing sunset date for Act 45 severely restricts the counties' ability to initiate and implement multi-year housing initiatives and financing. This measure would allow the State, counties, and housing developers to use county bonding powers over the long term to increase the stock of housing in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair