HB 89: Teacher Home Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that approximately ten per cent of the State's teachers switch schools, relocate, or leave the profession each year.  Only fifty to sixty per cent of current teachers have been at their school for five years or more.  Chronic teacher turnover forces the department of education to rely on emergency hires and substitute teachers to fill vacancies.  The legislature further finds that teacher recruitment and retention are especially difficult at hard-to-staff schools.

     The legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's high cost of living is a significant contributing factor in the department of education's teacher recruitment and retention efforts.  According to a WalletHub study, Hawaii ranked fifty-first out of fifty states and the District of Columbia for starting teacher salary and median teacher salary, adjusted for cost of living.

     The purpose of this Act is to alleviate the financial burden on teachers and improve teacher recruitment and retention by establishing a teacher housing assistance program to provide housing vouchers to qualified full-time teachers who are employed by the department of education or a charter school and teach at a hard‑to‑staff school, as determined by the department, including public charter schools.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart E, part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Teacher housing assistance program.  (a)  There is established a teacher housing assistance program to be administered by the department to provide housing vouchers to eligible teachers.  If the number of applications exceeds the number of available housing vouchers, housing vouchers shall be provided to eligible teachers through a lottery process.

     (b)  A housing voucher provided under this section shall be used for:

     (1)  Rent for the eligible teacher's primary residence;

     (2)  Mortgage payments for the eligible teacher's primary residence; or

     (3)  Down payment on residential real property; provided that the property shall be the eligible teacher's primary residence.

     (c)  A housing voucher shall not exceed $           per month or the eligible teacher's monthly rent or mortgage payment, whichever is less.  A housing voucher granted pursuant to this section shall be applicable for one year.  The voucher shall be renewable for one additional year.

     (d)  Upon the establishment of the teacher housing assistance program, the department shall develop an application procedure and processes, procedures, and forms necessary to implement and maintain the program.  The department shall work with the state public charter school commission to develop a process to verify that an eligible teacher satisfies the criteria listed in subsection (j).

     (e)  Applications for housing vouchers shall be made to the department and contain the information required by rules adopted by the department.  At a minimum, the applicant shall:

     (1)  Be an eligible teacher;

     (2)  Agree to use state funds exclusively for the purposes of this section;

     (3)  Indicate capability to properly use the voucher for the purposes of this section;

     (4)  Comply with other requirements as the department may require;

     (5)  Comply with all applicable federal, state, and county laws, rules, and ordinances;

     (6)  Agree to indemnify and save harmless the State and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from the use of vouchers pursuant to this section, and procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the department; and

     (7)  Agree to make available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the voucher, to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this section.

     (f)  If a voucher recipient fails to satisfy the work requirements in accordance with subsection (j)(4), the recipient shall repay the total amount of voucher funds received as a loan repayable to the department.  The repayment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set by the department, including circumstances under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to hardship or inability to secure employment and potential fees relating to the collection of delinquent repayment.

     (g)  Voucher funds repaid by the voucher recipient pursuant to subsection (f) shall be deposited into the teachers' housing revolving fund established pursuant to section 302A-833.

     (h)  In accordance with chapter 103D, the department may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent repayment of vouchers owed to the department pursuant to subsection (f).  A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the department to collect delinquent voucher repayments pursuant to this section may collect a fee from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract.

     (i)  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section.

     (j)  For the purposes of this section, "eligible teacher" means a person who:

     (1)  Is a full-time teacher;

     (2)  Has taught at a public school or public charter school in the State for at least one year before the application date;

     (3)  Is employed by the department or a public charter school;

     (4)  Commits to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the department, or a public charter school for no less than five consecutive years;

     (5)  Resides in the State;

     (6)  Does not own, operate, rent, or control any residential real property in addition to the eligible teacher's primary residence for which the housing voucher is sought; and

     (7)  Has a household income below      per cent of the area median income."

     SECTION 3.  Section 302A-833, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The revolving fund may be used by the department [of education] for any and all of the purposes of teachers' housing, including the [planning,]:

     (1)  Planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of teachers' housing[, as well as for the salaries];

     (2)  Teacher housing assistance program pursuant to section 302A-   ; and

     (3)  Salaries of the necessary personnel in charge thereof."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the teachers' housing revolving fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the provision of housing vouchers through the teacher housing assistance program established by this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Teacher Home Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Teacher Home Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers.  Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD3)

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 TEACHER HOUSING.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that approximately ten per cent of the State's teachers switch schools, relocate, or leave the profession each year.  Only fifty to sixty per cent of current teachers have been at their school for five years or more.  Chronic teacher turnover forces the department of education to rely on emergency hires and substitute teachers to fill vacancies.  The legislature further finds that teacher recruitment and retention are especially difficult at hard-to-staff schools.

     The legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's high cost of living is a significant contributing factor in the department of education's teacher recruitment and retention efforts.  According to a WalletHub study, Hawaii ranked fifty-first out of fifty states and the District of Columbia for starting teacher salary and median teacher salary, adjusted for cost of living.

     The purpose of this Act is to alleviate the financial burden on teachers and improve teacher recruitment and retention by establishing a teacher housing assistance program to provide housing vouchers to qualified full-time teachers who are employed by the department of education or a charter school and teach at a hard‑to‑staff school, as determined by the department, including public charter schools.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart E, part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Teacher housing assistance program.  (a)  There is established a teacher housing assistance program to be administered by the department to provide housing vouchers to eligible teachers.  If the number of applications exceeds the number of available housing vouchers, housing vouchers shall be provided to eligible teachers through a lottery process.

     (b)  A housing voucher provided under this section shall be used for:

     (1)  Rent for the eligible teacher's primary residence;

     (2)  Mortgage payments for the eligible teacher's primary residence; or

     (3)  Down payment on residential real property; provided that the property shall be the eligible teacher's primary residence.

     (c)  A housing voucher shall not exceed $500 per month or the eligible teacher's monthly rent or mortgage payment, whichever is less.  A housing voucher granted pursuant to this section shall be applicable for one year.  The voucher shall be renewable for one additional year.

     (d)  Upon the establishment of the teacher housing assistance program, the department shall develop an application procedure and processes, procedures, and forms necessary to implement and maintain the program.  The department shall work with the state public charter school commission to develop a process to verify that an eligible teacher satisfies the criteria listed in subsection (j).

     (e)  Applications for housing vouchers shall be made to the department and contain the information required by rules adopted by the department.  At a minimum, the applicant shall:

     (1)  Be an eligible teacher;

     (2)  Agree to use state funds exclusively for the purposes of this section;

     (3)  Indicate capability to properly use the voucher for the purposes of this section;

     (4)  Comply with other requirements as the department may require;

     (5)  Comply with all applicable federal, state, and county laws, rules, and ordinances;

     (6)  Agree to indemnify and save harmless the State and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from the use of vouchers pursuant to this section, and procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the department; and

     (7)  Agree to make available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the voucher, to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this section.

     (f)  If a voucher recipient fails to satisfy the work requirements in accordance with subsection (j)(4), the recipient shall repay the total amount of voucher funds received as a loan repayable to the department.  The repayment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set by the department, including circumstances under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to hardship or inability to secure employment and potential fees relating to the collection of delinquent repayment.

     (g)  Voucher funds repaid by the voucher recipient pursuant to subsection (f) shall be deposited into the teachers' housing revolving fund established pursuant to section 302A-833.

     (h)  In accordance with chapter 103D, the department may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent repayment of vouchers owed to the department pursuant to subsection (f).  A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the department to collect delinquent voucher repayments pursuant to this section may collect a fee from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract.

     (i)  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section.

     (j)  For the purposes of this section, "eligible teacher" means a person who:

     (1)  Is a full-time teacher;

     (2)  Has taught at a public school or public charter school in the State for at least one year before the application date;

     (3)  Is employed by the department or a public charter school;

     (4)  Commits to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the department, or a public charter school for no less than five consecutive years;

     (5)  Resides in the State;

     (6)  Does not own, operate, rent, or control any residential real property in addition to the eligible teacher's primary residence for which the housing voucher is sought; and

     (7)  Has a household income below      per cent of the area median income."

     SECTION 3.  Section 302A-833, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The revolving fund may be used by the department [of education] for any and all of the purposes of teachers' housing, including the [planning,]:

     (1)  Planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of teachers' housing[, as well as for the salaries];

     (2)  Teacher housing assistance program pursuant to section 302A-   ; and

     (3)  Salaries of the necessary personnel in charge thereof."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the teachers' housing revolving fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the provision of housing vouchers through the teacher housing assistance program established by this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Teacher Home Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Teacher Home Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers.  Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

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 TEACHER HOUSING.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that approximately ten per cent of the State's teachers switch schools, relocate, or leave the profession each year.  Only fifty to sixty per cent of current teachers have been at their school for five years or more.  Chronic teacher turnover forces the department of education to rely on emergency hires and substitute teachers to fill vacancies.  The legislature further finds that teacher recruitment and retention are especially difficult at hard-to-staff schools.

     The legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's high cost of living is a significant contributing factor in the department of education's teacher recruitment and retention efforts.  According to a WalletHub study, Hawaii ranked fifty-first out of fifty states and the District of Columbia for starting teacher salary and median teacher salary, adjusted for cost of living.

     The purpose of this Act is to alleviate the financial burden on teachers and improve teacher recruitment and retention by establishing a teacher housing assistance program to provide housing vouchers to qualified full-time teachers who are employed by the department of education or a charter school and teach at a hard‑to‑fill school, as determined by the department, including public charter schools.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart E, part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Teacher housing assistance program.  (a)  There is established a teacher housing assistance program to be administered by the department to provide housing vouchers to eligible teachers.  If the number of applications exceeds the number of available housing vouchers, housing vouchers shall be provided to eligible teachers through a lottery process.

     (b)  A housing voucher provided under this section shall be used for:

     (1)  Rent for the eligible teacher's primary residence;

     (2)  Mortgage payments for the eligible teacher's primary residence; or

     (3)  Down payment on residential real property; provided that the property shall be the eligible teacher's primary residence.

     (c)  A housing voucher shall not exceed $500 per month or the eligible teacher's monthly rent or mortgage payment, whichever is less.  A housing voucher granted pursuant to this section shall be applicable for one year.  The voucher shall be renewable for one additional year.

     (d)  Upon the establishment of the teacher housing assistance program, the department shall develop an application procedure and processes, procedures, and forms necessary to implement and maintain the program.  The department shall work with the state public charter school commission to develop a process to verify that an eligible teacher satisfies the criteria listed in subsection (e).

     (e)  Applications for housing vouchers shall be made to the department and contain the information required by rules adopted by the department.  At a minimum, the applicant shall:

     (1)  Be an eligible teacher;

     (2)  Agree to use state funds exclusively for the purposes of this section;

     (3)  Indicate capability to properly use the voucher for the purposes of this section;

     (4)  Comply with other requirements as the department may require;

     (5)  Comply with all applicable federal, state, and county laws, rules, and ordinances;

     (6)  Agree to indemnify and save harmless the State and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from the use of vouchers pursuant to this section, and procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the department; and

     (7)  Agree to make available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the voucher, to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this section.

     (f)  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section.

     (g)  For the purposes of this section, "eligible teacher" means a person who:

     (1)  Is a full-time teacher;

     (2)  Has taught at a school in the State for at least one year before the application date;

     (3)  Is employed by the department or a public charter school;

     (4)  Commits to teach at a hard-to-fill school, as determined by the department, or a public charter school for no less than five consecutive years;

     (5)  Resides in the State;

     (6)  Does not own, operate, rent, or control any residential real property in addition to the eligible teacher's primary residence for which the housing voucher is sought; and

     (7)  Has a household income below      per cent of the area median income."

     SECTION 3.  Section 302A-833, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The revolving fund may be used by the department [of education] for any and all of the purposes of teachers' housing, including the [planning,]:

     (1)  Planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of teachers' housing[, as well as for the salaries];

     (2)  Teacher housing assistance program pursuant to section 302A-   ; and

     (3)  Salaries of the necessary personnel in charge thereof."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the teachers' housing revolving fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the provision of housing vouchers through the teacher housing assistance program established by this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Teacher Home Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Teacher Home Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers.  Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund.  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 teacher housing.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that approximately ten per cent of the State's teachers switch schools, relocate, or leave the profession each year.  Only fifty to sixty per cent of current teachers have been at their school for five years or more.  Chronic teacher turnover forces the department of education to rely on emergency hires and substitute teachers to fill vacancies.  The legislature further finds that teacher recruitment and retention are especially difficult at hard-to-staff schools.

     The legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's high cost of living is a significant contributing factor in the department of education's teacher recruitment and retention efforts.  According to a WalletHub study, Hawaii ranked fifty-first out of fifty states and the District of Columbia for starting teacher salary and median teacher salary, adjusted for cost of living.

     The purpose of this Act is to alleviate the financial burden on teachers and improve teacher recruitment and retention by establishing a teacher housing assistance program to provide housing vouchers to qualified full-time teachers who are employed by the department of education or a charter school and teach at a hard‑to‑fill school, as determined by the department, including public charter schools.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart E, part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Teacher housing assistance program.  (a)  There is established a teacher housing assistance program to be administered by the department to provide housing vouchers to eligible teachers.  If the number of applications exceeds the number of available housing vouchers, housing vouchers shall be provided to eligible teachers through a lottery process.

     (b)  A housing voucher provided under this section shall be used for:

     (1)  Rent for the eligible teacher's primary residence;

     (2)  Mortgage payments for the eligible teacher's primary residence; or

     (3)  Down payment on residential real property; provided that the property shall be the eligible teacher's primary residence.

     (c)  A housing voucher shall not exceed $500 per month or the eligible teacher's monthly rent or mortgage payment, whichever is less.  A housing voucher granted pursuant to this section shall be applicable for one year.  The voucher shall be renewable for one additional year.

     (d)  Upon the establishment of the teacher housing assistance program, the department shall develop an application procedure and processes, procedures, and forms necessary to implement and maintain the program.  The department shall work with the state public charter school commission to develop a process to verify that an eligible teacher satisfies the criteria listed in subsection (f).

     (e)  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section.

     (f)  For the purposes of this section, "eligible teacher" means a person who:

     (1)  Is a full-time teacher;

     (2)  Has taught at a school in the State for at least one year prior to the application date;

     (3)  Is employed by the department of education or a public charter school;

     (4)  Commits to teach at a hard-to-fill school, as determined by the department of education, or a public charter school for no less than five consecutive years;

     (5)  Resides in the State;

     (6)  Does not own, operate, rent, or control any residential real property in addition to the eligible teacher's primary residence for which the housing voucher is sought; and

     (7)  Has a household income below      per cent of the area median income."

     SECTION 3.  Section 302A-833, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The revolving fund may be used by the department of education for any and all of the purposes of teachers' housing, including the [planning,];

     (1)  Planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of teachers' housing[, as well as for the salaries];

     (2)  Teacher housing assistance program pursuant to section 302A-   ; and

     (3)  Salaries of the necessary personnel in charge thereof."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the teachers' housing revolving fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the provision of housing vouchers through the teacher housing assistance program established by this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

Teacher Home Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Teacher Home Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers.  Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund.

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.  1035

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 89

      H.D. 3

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 89, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers who are employed by the Department of Education or a charter school and teach at a hard-to-staff school.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education; State Public Charter School Commission; and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the maximum amount for a housing voucher to an unspecified amount.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 89, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 89, H.D. 3.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  754

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 89

      H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 89, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers who are employed at a hard-to-fill school.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Education; and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

     Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing a severe shortage of qualified teachers.  Your Committee further finds that high cost of living and lack of affordable housing are major contributing factors to the teacher shortage.  Your Committee believes that providing housing vouchers to qualifying teachers will alleviate the financial burden on teachers in obtaining housing.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Establishing procedures for the repayment of voucher funds by a teacher if the teacher is unable to fulfill the requirements of the Teacher Housing Assistance Program;

     (2)  Clarifying the eligibility requirements for participation in the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to:

          (A)  Include teachers who have taught at a public charter school for at least one year prior to applying for the Program; and

          (B)  Require teachers to commit to teach at a hard-to-staff school, rather than a hard-to-fill school, as determined by the Department of Education; 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 89, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 89, H.D. 2.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  217

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 89

      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. 89 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers who are employed at a hard-to-fill school.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; and Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Education; and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

     Your Committee finds that there is a severe shortage of qualified teachers in the State.  Major contributing factors to this shortage are Hawaii's high cost of living and a lack of affordable housing.  According to the Department of Education's employment report for the 2020-2021 school year, roughly fifty-seven percent of teachers who resigned cited the high cost of housing as the primary reason for leaving the State.  Your Committee believes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program proposed by this measure is an important step in attracting and retaining teachers.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Establishing standards for housing voucher applications under the Teacher Housing Assistance Program;

     (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. 89, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 89, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.

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