# Hawaii SB 2544: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Hawaii SB 2544, RELATING TO HOUSING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-07-08 (Act 216, 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1318).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2544-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 2544
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO HOUSING.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-07-08, Act 216, 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1318).
- Sponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: HHFDC, DURF, Hawaii Builds Pilot Program, Exemptions, Permit Reviews, Interagency Coordination, Reports, HSG, FIN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 10 (214 yes, 4 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Establishes a 5-year Hawaii Builds Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Authorizes the use of the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for Pilot Program, subject to an annual cap. Mandates interagency coordination and expedited review for projects to facilitate timely delivery of projects. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Faster housing projects for local households: benefit, low. The law creates a five-year Hawaii Builds pilot to speed up multi-unit housing for households earning 60% to 140% of area median income. The housing agency must designate at least one project in each county, and sites need enough water, sewer, and transportation capacity. Most units must meet the s…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-05-06 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 2 |   |
| 2026-04-29 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-29 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 2 | 1 |   |
| 2026-04-09 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 1 |   |
| 2026-04-07 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 16 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-25 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 48 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-20 | House | The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 11 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (49)

- 2026-07-08: Act 216, 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1318). (Senate)
- 2026-07-08: Act 216, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1318). (House)
- 2026-05-08: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888). (Senate)
- 2026-05-08: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2026-05-06: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-05-06: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Iwamoto voting no (2) and none excused (0). (House)
- 2026-05-06: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816). (House)
- 2026-04-29: 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, Hashimoto, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-04-29: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 42-26). (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26. (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 42-26) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2026-04-29: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26. (House)
- 2026-04-28: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 10:00AM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2026-04-27: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 10:05AM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2026-04-24: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 10:05AM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2026-04-23: Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 10:05AM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2026-04-21: House Conferees Appointed: Evslin, Miyake Co-Chairs; Cochran. (House)
- 2026-04-21: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800). (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Senate Conferees Appointed: Chang Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Rhoads. (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718). (House)
- 2026-04-10: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 511). (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564). (House)
- 2026-04-09: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2018-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-04-09: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-04-07: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-04-02: The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-31: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-25: Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1419-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2026-03-25: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Cochran, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2). (House)
- 2026-03-20: The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila. (House)
- 2026-03-17: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Friday, 03-20-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-10: Referred to HSG, FIN, referral sheet 15 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-05: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 25) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2026-02-24: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2712) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-05-26. (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2192) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: 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, Elefante, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Referred to HOU, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1318_.PDF)
- SB2544_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_CD1_.HTM)
- SB2544_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_HD1_.HTM)
- SB2544_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_SD1_.HTM)
- SB2544_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_SD2_.HTM)

## 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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1318_.PDF)
- [SB2544_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB2544_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB2544_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB2544_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2544_SD2_.HTM)

## 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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2544-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).
