STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2407

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2234

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 Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2234 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the definition of "qualified nonprofit housing trust" in chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to require qualifying organizations to exclusively serve qualified residents as defined in section 201H‑32, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that qualified nonprofit housing trusts play a crucial role in addressing the State's housing shortage. Nonprofit housing trusts provide numerous services to residents, including transitional and supportive housing for households experiencing homelessness. Requiring qualified nonprofit housing trusts to serve local qualified residents will help protect program integrity, promote accountability, and support long-term affordability.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2234, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2234, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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STANLEY CHANG, Chair