STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2301

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2557

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, 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 require the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to:

(1) Make an annual report on the number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and on housing placement;

(2) Annually report to the Legislature on contracts and plans or proposals to enhance kauhale projects; and

(3) Annually report to the Legislature on coordination between the office and any county, state, or federal agencies, or private or nonprofit organizations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that since its establishment in 2023, $112,452,080 in general funds and $24,400,000 in general obligation bond funds have been appropriated for the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Your Committee further finds that despite the efforts and appropriations made in prior legislative sessions, the 2024 Homeless Point-in-Time count for Oahu noted a twelve percent increase in the total number of people who experienced homelessness. This measure recognizes that more oversight is needed on the expenditure of public funds to address homelessness and clarifies reporting requirements of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2557 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair