# Hawaii HB 1298: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Hawaii HB 1298, RELATING TO HOUSING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Kyle T. Yamashita (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-03 (Act 166, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1266).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1298-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 1298
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO HOUSING.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-06-03, Act 166, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1266).
- Sponsor: Kyle T. Yamashita (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: HHFDC, Government Employee Housing, Affordable Rental Housing, Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, Appropriations, HOU/LBT, WAM
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 12 (219 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

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

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Affordable homes for public workers: benefit, low. 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 gen…
- Fewer development rules for employee housing: benefit, low. 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 develo…
- Funding and leases for employee housing: benefit, low. 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 pr…
- Limits on use of program homes: cost, low. 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: mixed, low. 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 c…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kyle T. Yamashita (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 47 | 3 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-08 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-03 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | Senate | The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-25 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | House | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB... | pass | 45 | 3 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 2 |   |

## Actions (55)

- 2025-06-03: Act 166, 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1266). (Senate)
- 2025-06-03: Act 166, on 06/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1266). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-05-01: Transmitted to Governor. (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: 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). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:30 PM; Conference Room 016. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 4:30 PM; Conference Room 225. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Senate Conferees Changed: Senator Kanuha added as Co-Chair. Senator Hashimoto discharged as Co-Chair. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Received notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 882). (House)
- 2025-04-25: 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. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: 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. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 236) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 236). (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25 (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 224. (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 10:31AM; Conference Room 224. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Senate Conferees Appointed: Chang Chair; Aquino, Hashimoto Co-Chairs; Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 862). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 755). (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: House Conferees Appointed: Evslin, Sayama, Miyake Co-Chairs; Kapela, Pierick. (House)
- 2025-04-11: Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704). (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: House disagrees with Senate amendment (s). (House)
- 2025-04-08: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 757) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1794) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: One Day Notice 04-08-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-01: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-03-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Reported from HOU/LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1294) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Aquino, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Moriwaki. (Senate)
- 2025-03-11: The committee(s) on HOU/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 354). (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to HOU/LBT, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Muraoka voting no (1) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1040) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-02-28: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25. (House)
- 2025-02-25: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kitagawa, Ward. (House)
- 2025-02-21: Proposed draft of Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 02-25-25 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. Copy of proposed draft available at www.capitol.hawaii.gov. (House)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 659) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-02-11: The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-02-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-02-04: Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 141) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB. (House)
- 2025-02-04: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3). (House)
- 2025-01-29: The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka, Pierick; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to HSG, LAB, FIN, referral sheet 4 (House)
- 2025-01-27: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 01-29-25 9:15AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-22: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_CD1_.pdf)
- HB1298_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_CD1_.HTM)
- HB1298_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD1_.HTM)
- HB1298_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD2_.HTM)
- HB1298_HD3: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD3_.HTM)
- HB1298_HD3_PROPOSED: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD3_PROPOSED_.HTM)
- HB1298_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_SD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1266_.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)
- SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE. (signed)
- SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT. (signed)
- HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_CD1_.pdf)
- [HB1298_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_CD1_.HTM)
- [HB1298_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD1_.HTM)
- [HB1298_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD2_.HTM)
- [HB1298_HD3 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD3_.HTM)
- [HB1298_HD3_PROPOSED (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_HD3_PROPOSED_.HTM)
- [HB1298_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_SD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB1298_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1266_.PDF)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1231-2025)
- [SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB935-2025)
- [HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB703-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1298-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).