HB 489: RELATING TO VACANT HOMES.

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.