STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3281

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1975

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1975, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the sunset for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna and for positions to support the program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Executive Office on Aging, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Palehua Townhouses Association, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, AARP Hawaiʻi, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, LeadingAge Pacific West, and five individuals.

Your Committees find that stable access to safe and affordable housing plays a critical role in supporting the health, well-being, and quality of life for the State's kupuna. In many cases, reducing housing cost burdens can help alleviate financial stress and contribute to improved mental and physical health outcomes, allowing seniors to age in place with dignity and stability. Act 98, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023 (Act 98), established the Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna to address the adverse effects that high housing costs have on senior residents of the State. However, without further legislative action, Act 98 will repeal on June 30, 2028, leaving many seniors without essential support. Due to the success of the program and to ensure seniors continue to receive housing support, this measure will make the program permanent and increase its effective administration.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1975, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1975, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair