# Hawaii HB 516: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Hawaii HB 516, RELATING TO HOUSING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by WARD; status first reading, last action 2025-01-21 (Introduced and Pass First Reading.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB516-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 516
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO HOUSING.
- Status: first reading
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-01-21, Introduced and Pass First Reading.
- Sponsor: WARD
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: Housing, Counties, Accessory Dwelling Unit, HCDA, Appropriation, HSG/WAL, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Repeals the requirement imposed on the counties to allow for the construction of at least two accessory dwelling units on all residentially zoned lots. Establishes the accessory dwelling unit housing development program with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to award subsidies to individuals who build accessory dwelling units. Exempts those accessory dwelling units from general excise tax for the first 3 years of rental.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: WARD
- Cosponsor: David Alcos III (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Diamond Garcia (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elijah Pierick (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Sean Quinlan (Democratic), House

## Actions (3)

- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HSG/WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB516_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB516_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB516_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB516_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB516-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).