# Hawaii HB 489: RELATING TO VACANT HOMES.

Hawaii HB 489, RELATING TO VACANT HOMES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB489-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 489
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO VACANT HOMES.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: DOTAX, DBEDT, HHFDC, Counties, Vacant Home Surcharge, GET, HSG, ECD, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes a Vacant Homes Special Fund under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for rental assistance programs. Establishes a general excise tax surcharge on an owner that allows a residential real property to remain vacant for 180 days or more a year. Requires persons who own residential real property, but do not live there, to obtain a general excise tax license. Requires the counties to disclose to the Department of Taxation a list of properties classified as not being occupied by an owner of that property. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to calculate average annual rental value for the basis for the surcharge amount.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House

## Actions (4)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HSG, ECD, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB489_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB489_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB489_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB489_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [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-HB489-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).