CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 42-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2544

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2544, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a five-year Hawaii Builds Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation;

(2) Authorize the use of the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for the Pilot Program, subject to an annual cap;

(3) Mandate interagency coordination and expedited review for projects to facilitate timely delivery of projects; and

(4) Require annual reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the BC Builds Program, a housing program implemented in British Columbia, has experienced remarkable success in quickly delivering housing units affordable to renters at a wide range of income levels. The BC Builds Program relies on innovative finance and collaborative development strategies to achieve rapid growth in housing production. This measure will expand housing production by establishing a Hawaii Builds Pilot Program that is modeled on the BC Builds Program to expedite construction and help the State address its chronic housing shortage.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an amount of $20,000,000 for the annual cap on funds from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund that may be utilized for the Hawaii Builds Pilot Program;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2544, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2544, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ LUKE A. EVSLIN Co-Chair	____________________________ STANLEY CHANG Chair
____________________________ TYSON K. MIYAKE Co-Chair	____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO Co-Chair