HB 1451: RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  (a)  There is established the affordable housing land inventory task force to be placed in the Hawaii community development authority for administrative purposes.

     (b)  The task force shall consist of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  The director of the office of planning and sustainable development, who shall serve as the chairperson;

     (2)  The comptroller;

     (3)  The executive director of the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation;

     (4)  The executive director of the Hawaii public housing authority;

     (5)  The executive director of the Hawaii community development authority;

     (6)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources; and

     (7)  The executive director of the land use commission.

Task force members may recommend to the task force additional members having appropriate special expertise, including representatives from organizations with experience in development or redevelopment, for approval by the chairperson.

     (c)  The task force shall:

     (1)  Update the maps, tier tables, and inventories of State lands suitable and available for affordable housing development that are in the affordable rental housing report and ten-year plan that was generated pursuant to Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016;

     (2)  Focus on existing urban lands to minimize the need for major regional infrastructure improvements;

     (3)  Examine mixed-use development opportunities to redevelop underutilized existing state-owned lands having one government tenant or use;

     (4)  Identify lands to accommodate one hundred thousand new housing units, and designate these as important housing lands; and

     (5)  Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.

     (d)  The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (e)  The Hawaii community development authority shall provide administrative and clerical support required by the task force.

     (f)  The task force shall be dissolved on January 1, 2026.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 to fund a staff position and for contractual services incurred by the task force established pursuant to section 1 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii community development authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

HCDA; Affordable Housing Development; Task Force; State Lands; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force within the Hawaii Community Development Authority to update the Affordable Rental Housing Report and Ten-Year Plan maps, tier tables, and inventories of state lands suitable and available for affordable housing development.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  (a)  There is established the affordable housing land inventory task force to be placed in the Hawaii community development authority for administrative purposes.

     (b)  The task force shall consist of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  The director of the office of planning and sustainable development, who shall serve as the chairperson;

     (2)  The comptroller of the department of accounting and general services;

     (3)  The executive director of the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation;

     (4)  The executive director of the Hawaii public housing authority;

     (5)  The executive director of the Hawaii community development authority;

     (6)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources; and

     (7)  The executive director of the land use commission.

Task force members may recommend to the task force additional members having appropriate special expertise, including representatives from organizations with experience in development or redevelopment, for approval by the chairperson.

     (c)  The task force shall:

     (1)  Update the maps, tier tables, and inventories of State lands suitable and available for affordable housing development that are in the affordable rental housing report and ten-year plan that was generated pursuant to Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016;

     (2)  Focus on existing urban lands to minimize the need for major regional infrastructure improvements;

     (3)  Examine mixed-use development opportunities to redevelop underutilized existing state-owned lands having one government tenant or use;

     (4)  Identify lands to accommodate one hundred thousand new housing units, and designate these as important housing lands; and

     (5)  Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.

     (d)  The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (e)  No member of the task force shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the task force.

     (f)  The Hawaii community development authority shall provide administrative and clerical support required by the task force.

     (g)  The task force shall be dissolved on January 1, 2026.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 to fund a staff position and for contractual services incurred by the task force established pursuant to section 1 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii community development authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

HCDA; Affordable Housing Development; Task Force; State Lands; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force within the Hawaii Community Development Authority to update the Affordable Rental Housing Report and Ten-Year Plan maps, tier tables, and inventories of state lands suitable and available for affordable housing development.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates moneys.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  140

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1451

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1451 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force within the Hawaii Community Development Authority to update the Affordable Rental Housing Report and Ten-Year Plan maps, tier tables, and inventories of state lands suitable and available for affordable housing development.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is facing a severe shortage of affordable housing, exacerbated by rising demand and limited land availability for new development.  With the growing population and increasing housing costs, there is an urgent need to identify and utilize existing state-owned lands for affordable housing projects.  This measure will focus on updating land inventories and identifying suitable lands for development, which will be a helpful tool for the development of new affordable housing inventory throughout the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing as unnecessary a reference to the State Ethics Code, as the State Ethics Commission's longstanding practice is to exclude the activities of provisions of the Code;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1451, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1451, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,