STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1861-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 74

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.R. No. 74, H.D. 1, 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 the Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Plumbers and Fitters UA Local 675.

Your Committee finds that establishing a new category of basic shelter standards would enable the adoption of minimum standards to ensure that housing is safe, sanitary, and structurally sound, while also allowing greater flexibility than full building code requirements. Your Committee further finds that adopting basic shelter standards would provide a lawful framework for dignified, low-cost housing solutions and limiting the use of basic shelter standards to projects built or conveyed by government agencies or nonprofit organizations would prevent speculative or profit-driven misuse.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adding a provision that states that if a unit initially constructed under basic shelter standards eventually becomes permanent habitation, the unit should be upgraded to comply with the requirements of the Hawaii State Building Code or United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Quality Standards (24 C.F.R. 982.401) and HUD Minimum Property Standards.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 74, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 74, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair