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HawaiiHB 12982025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)HouseWALLET

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Sponsored By: Kyle T. Yamashita (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Establishes a Government Employee Housing Program within HHFDC, to be financed by the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Appropriates funds for the program. (CD1)

HHFDCGovernment Employee HousingAffordable Rental HousingDwelling Unit Revolving FundAppropriationsHOU/LBT, WAM

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Affordable homes for public workers

Starting July 1, 2025, Hawaii’s housing agency establishes one affordable rental project on qualifying state land within one mile of a planned or existing transit station. Newly hired permanent full-time state employees have first priority, followed by other state and county employees, then the general public. Sixty percent of available units are reserved for government employees with incomes at or below 140% of the local median family income, as set by the federal housing department. Employees who leave state or county work can stay in a program home for up to 12 months.

Fewer development rules for employee housing

Starting July 1, 2025, design and development contracts for program rental homes on state land are exempt from the usual state procurement rules. Housing agency developments under the program are also exempt from a state school-development requirement. These changes affect how the project is developed, but do not promise lower rents.

Funding and leases for employee housing

Starting July 1, 2025, the dwelling unit revolving fund can pay to run and finance the housing program and related facilities and infrastructure. Hawaii’s housing agency can lease the commercial part of a mixed-use project for up to 65 years, and all lease money must support the program. The law provides $200,000 in each of fiscal years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 for planning one project. It also provides $160,000 in each year for one full-time position at the agency.

Limits on use of program homes

Starting July 1, 2025, program homes on state land cannot be advertised for rent, subleased, or used for nonresidential purposes. Hawaii’s housing agency must set penalties for violations by rule.

Land acquisition for employee housing

Starting July 1, 2025, counties can transfer property to Hawaii’s housing agency for the program without an auction or bids. The agency must request and certify that the property is needed, and the county council must hold a hearing after publishing notice at least six days beforehand. The agency can also condemn property it finds necessary, including property already used for public purposes; compensation excludes certain value increases tied to redevelopment actions. When program land is no longer needed, the agency must return land from another government agency but keep qualifying land acquired from a private party.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kyle T. Yamashita

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 219 • No: 9

House vote • 4/30/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 47 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/25/2025

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....

Yes: 3 • No: 0

House vote • 4/25/2025

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....

Yes: 4 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The...

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2025

The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2025

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 3 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 48 • No: 1

House vote • 2/25/2025

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote • 2/11/2025

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 2/4/2025

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB...

Yes: 45 • No: 3

House vote • 1/29/2025

The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 6 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Act 166, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1266).

    6/3/2025Senate

  2. Act 166, on 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1266).

    6/3/2025House

  3. Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821).

    5/2/2025Senate

  4. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888).

    5/1/2025House

  5. Transmitted to Governor.

    5/1/2025House

  6. Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

    4/30/2025Senate

  7. Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

    4/30/2025House

  8. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:30 PM; Conference Room 016.

    4/25/2025Senate

  9. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 4:30 PM; Conference Room 225.

    4/25/2025Senate

  10. Senate Conferees Changed: Senator Kanuha added as Co-Chair. Senator Hashimoto discharged as Co-Chair.

    4/25/2025Senate

  11. Received notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 882).

    4/25/2025House

  12. The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Aquino, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

    4/25/2025Senate

  13. The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Sayama, Miyake, Kapela; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

    4/25/2025House

  14. Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 236) as amended in (CD 1).

    4/25/2025House

  15. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.

    4/25/2025House

  16. Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 236).

    4/25/2025Senate

  17. 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25

    4/25/2025Senate

  18. Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 224.

    4/24/2025Senate

  19. Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 10:31AM; Conference Room 224.

    4/23/2025Senate

  20. Senate Conferees Appointed: Chang Chair; Aquino, Hashimoto Co-Chairs; Fevella.

    4/22/2025Senate

  21. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 862).

    4/22/2025House

  22. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 755).

    4/21/2025Senate

  23. House Conferees Appointed: Evslin, Sayama, Miyake Co-Chairs; Kapela, Pierick.

    4/17/2025House

  24. Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).

    4/11/2025Senate

  25. House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

    4/10/2025House

Bill Text

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