STAND. COM. REP. NO. 399-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 276

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. 276, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to relieve homeowner-developers from the burden of filing annual reports and paying the fee for developments consisting of no more than two units, in which one unit is the residence of the developer and the initial sale of the other unit has been completed.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Real Estate Commission.

Your Committee finds that the Condominium Property Act characterizes homeowner-developers who own two units under a condominium property regime as a developer of a condominium project. Under the Condominium Property Act, developers are required to file an annual report and pay an annual fee until all units in a development have been sold. This requirement unduly burdens homeowner-developers who permanently reside on their property and do not intend to sell their unit in the development. This measure will therefore provide relief in these specific instances from the burdensome annual filing and fee requirements.

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. 276, 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair