STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2989

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2347

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. 2347, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Office of Consumer Protection to periodically publish an accessible, multilingual notice of tenant rights.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Hawaiʻi YIMBY, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that renters comprise a significant and essential part of the State's housing market, yet they often enter into lease agreements with insufficient information regarding their rights, responsibilities, and options under the law. Your Committee further finds that many renters, including Native Hawaiians, face language barriers, limited access to legal assistance, and fear of retaliation, all of which make it difficult to understand and assert their rights under the State's Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. This measure addresses a critical and practical gap in tenant protections by requiring the publication of the information necessary for renters to utilize the self-help system of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code in an accessible, multilingual format, thereby promoting housing security and helping prevent exploitation or misunderstanding in landlord-tenant relationships.

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. 2347, 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