# Hawaii SB 511: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Hawaii SB 511, RELATING TO HOUSING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-12 (Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 379) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB511-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 511
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO HOUSING.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-02-12, Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 379) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: HHFDC, Housing Development, Counties, Affordable Housing, Application, Approval, HOU, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Clarifies that projects seeking exemptions from planning and development laws and rules may be modified by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation under certain conditions. Authorizes HHFDC to make recommendations to appropriate Legislative bodies. Requires HHFDC or a county to accept an application seeking certain exemptions within thirty days, and to process the application within one hundred twenty days before final approval by a county legislative body for certain housing projects. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (8)

- 2025-02-12: Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 379) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Aquino. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Re-Referred to HOU, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HOU/EIG, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_.PDF)
- SB511_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_SD1_.HTM)

## 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
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_.PDF)
- [SB511_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB511_SD1_.HTM)

## 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)
- [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-SB511-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).