KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Stanley Chang, Chair |
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Senator Troy N. Hashimoto, Vice Chair |
AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
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TIME: |
1:05 PM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 225 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A M E N D E D A G E N D A
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Amends, for purposes of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Rent-to-Own Program, the period during which the sales price of a dwelling unit is required to remain fixed from five years to an option period to be determined by the Corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Authorizes HHFDC to designate certain for-sale units as permanently affordable housing, subject to certain restrictions. Clarifies that certain resale and occupancy restrictions apply only to projects developed prior to a certain date. Amends the definition of "qualified resident" for the purposes of HHFDC housing development programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND. Specifies the conditions upon which the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation may transfer moneys from within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to a subaccount and between subaccounts of the fund. Clarifies what constitutes a mixed-income rental project for purposes of loans funded through the Mixed-Income Subaccount. Repeals the sunset date for the Mixed-Income Subaccount. Authorizes the Director of Finance to deposit rental housing revolving funds into, and appropriates funds into and out of, the Mixed-Income Subaccount. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HOUSING LOAN AND MORTGAGE PROGRAM. Increases the Hula Mae Multifamily Revenue Bond authorization ceiling amount to continue financing affordable rental housing statewide. Clarifies that revenue bonds treated as refunding bonds do not count against the authorized aggregate principal amount of the bond. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Removes the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and removes the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Amends exemptions from statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules for certain housing projects developed by the Corporation that satisfy certain conditions, including requirements related to employment, owner-occupancy, and deed restrictions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT. Clarifies that a partner or member that is a partnership or limited liability company that has been allocated a low-income housing tax credit may either further allocate the credit or transfer, sell, or assign all or a portion of the credit to any taxpayer. Extends the sunset date of Act 129, SLH 2016, relating to the low-income housing tax credit, until 12/31/2032. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE DOWNPAYMENT LOAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. Amends the Downpayment Loan Assistance Program by: removing the prohibition on combined loan-to-value ratios; clarifying the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's authority to allow payment waivers and interest forgiveness; authorizing financial institutions, mortgage lenders and other loan originators to originate downpayment loans; and reducing the borrower's required personal contribution toward the downpayment. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to approve and certify general excise tax exemptions for certain housing development projects developed under county housing incentive programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING. Establishes the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program. Establishes an advisory council within the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to advise on environmental and cultural practices within specific developments. Requires reports to the legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent, with modifications that include changing the method for computation of interest for purchasers of certain real property. Expands the use of proceeds in the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to include purchasing equity in for-sale housing development projects and interim primary or secondary financing. Exempts disbursements from the Affordable Housing Revolving Fund from appropriation and allotment requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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HOU, WAM [Measure added on 03-13-26] |
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Decision Making to follow, if time permits.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.
Please note the following:
· The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.
· Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 1 minute each.
If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf
For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email HOUcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-586-8420.
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_____________________________________ Senator Stanley Chang Chair |
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