STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1648-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 74

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 Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 74 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT BASIC SHELTER STANDARDS TO ENABLE LOW-COST, RAPID-DEPLOYMENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the State Building Code Council to develop and adopt basic shelter standards to enable low‑cost, rapid‑deployment housing solutions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Aloha Independent Living Hawaii. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Plumbers and Fitters UA Local 675.

Your Committee finds that the State's housing shortages are exacerbated by high construction costs, labor constraints, and building code requirements that are designed for conventional housing but effectively prohibit low‑cost and rapidly deployable shelter options. Temporary exemptions under emergency proclamations have demonstrated the viability of alternative housing models, such as kauhale villages and prefabricated units, but these tools are unavailable once emergency authorities expire. Your Committee believes that establishing basic shelter standards within the State Building Code will provide a durable and lawful framework for safe, dignified, and flexible housing solutions that can be deployed quickly to meet urgent housing and disaster‑related needs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the intended uses of units constructed under the Basic Shelter Appendix;

(2) Requesting the State Building Code Council to authorize occupancy of housing constructed under the Basic Shelter Appendix only during, or in direct response to, a natural disaster emergency proclamation;

(3) Requesting the State Building Code Council to develop, as part of the Basic Shelter Appendix, a conversion pathway for units initially constructed under basic shelter standards to convert to permanent habitation; and

(4) Specifying that the State Building Code Council ensures that the new basic shelter standards protect public health, safety, and welfare, in addition to reflecting Hawaii's climate, cultural context, and resilience needs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 74, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Water & Land in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 74, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair