STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2996

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2192

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2192, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize a county to reduce the number of housing units that may be built within any geographical area of the county only if the county increases the number of housing units that may be built elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity in the county.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from AARP Hawaiʻi and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the State faces a significant housing deficit, and even well-intended downzoning or reduction of the number of housing units allowed to be built in an area can exacerbate housing shortages, drive up costs, and limit future housing options. Your Committee believes that requiring any reduction in allowable housing units to be offset elsewhere in the county will prevent a net loss of overall residential capacity for that county. This measure safeguards countywide residential capacity and ensures that the counties' land use decisions do not further restrict the State's housing supply.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2192, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair