STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3896

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 98

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 Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 98, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO DEVELOP A COUNTYWIDE HOUSING PATTERN BOOK TO STREAMLINE PERMIT APPROVALS AND REDUCE REGULATORY BARRIERS FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND WELL-DESIGNED HOMES ACROSS OAHU,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu to develop a countywide housing pattern book containing pre-reviewed residential building designs that comply with applicable building codes and best practices for safety, affordability, resilience, and architectural quality.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Housing and Land Management of the City and County of Honolulu and one individual.

Your Committees finds that the existing housing permitting process is complex and burdensome, making it difficult for local families to access stable housing. A housing pattern book containing pre-reviewed residential designs that comply with applicable codes has been proven to expedite permitting and housing production. By issuing a book of pre-reviewed plans, this measure would help reduce the burden on permitting department staff while also reducing permit delays and encouraging housing growth.

Your Committees note that the companion to this measure, S.C.R. No. 107, S.D. 1 (2026) which was previously passed by the Senate, requests the Department of Housing and Land Management of the City and County of Honolulu to develop a countywide housing pattern book to streamline permit approvals and reduce regulatory barriers for safe, affordable, and well-designed homes. Your Committees believe that the language in S.C.R. No. 107, S.D. 1 is preferable because it clarifies that the countywide housing pattern book requested by this measure applies only to the City and County of Honolulu and requests the Department of Housing and Land Management of the City and County of Honolulu to collaborate with the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting the contents of S.C.R. No. 107, S.D.1, a measure that:

(A) Requests the Department of Housing and Land Management of the City and County of Honolulu to develop a countywide housing pattern book containing pre-reviewed residential building designs that comply with the City and County of Honolulu's applicable building codes and best practices for safety, affordability, resilience, and architectural quality;

(B) Specifies the conditions for the designs within the housing pattern book;

(C) Requests the Department of Housing and Land Management of the City and County of Honolulu to include a design competition to attract innovative and high-quality designs; and

(D) Requests the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu to provide streamlined permitting for projects utilizing approved pattern-book designs; and

(2) Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 98, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 98, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Housing,

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair