STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2949

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2557

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2557 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the reporting requirements of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to provide additional oversight of moneys expended to address homelessness.

Specifically, the measure requires the Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to report to the Legislature annually to provide:

(1) The number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and the number of individuals who have been placed in permanent housing, supportive housing, and in permanent or independent living arrangements;

(2) Information on certain contracts, including contract amounts, contractor names, the purpose of the contracts, any terms or conditions of the contracts, and performance outcomes in reducing the number of persons experiencing homelessness;

(3) Any plans or proposals made by the Office to enhance kauhale projects; and

(4) Any actions taken or efforts made by the Office to coordinate with other county, state, or federal agencies, or private or nonprofit organizations, to reduce the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions.

Your Committee finds that homelessness continues to be a major challenge in the State, despite legislative efforts and funding appropriations made in prior sessions to address the issue. The 2024 Homeless Point-in-Time Count for Oahu noted a twelve percent increase in the total number of people who experienced homelessness. Your Committee also finds that, in 2025, there was a significant increase in deaths of homeless people compared to prior years. Your Committee believes that the reporting requirements specified in this measure will give the Legislature additional oversight of the expenditure of taxpayer moneys, and provide the data needed to inform policy-making to allow the State to better assist homeless individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2557, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2557, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair