STAND. COM. REP. NO. 398-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1777

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. 1777, 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:

(1) Require developers of housing projects receiving any development assistance from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide specified protections to tenants displaced or evicted by redevelopment; and

(2) Establish consequences for a developer's noncompliance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawaiʻi; AARP Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Adult Friends for Youth; Hawaiʻi YIMBY; Parents And Children Together; and ten individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from NAIOP Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the creation of new affordable housing units is an important aspect of the State's efforts to address the existing housing crisis in Hawaii. However, the creation of new affordable housing units through the redevelopment of existing housing displaces and dislocates those tenants. This measure specifies a clear procedure for developers to follow when redeveloping areas in which existing tenants reside.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriate definition of "comparable unit".

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. 1777, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair