Bills

SB 25: Counties; Reduction in Housing; Maintaining Residential Capacity

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Senate
Latest Version Date: 2025-02-28

Current Status:

Failed

(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

Authorizes a county to reduce the number of housing units that may be built within any portion of the county only if the county increases the number of housing units that may be built elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Version:

SB25 SD1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	25
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HOUSING.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§46- Reduction in housing units; residential capacity; no net loss. A county may reduce the number of housing units that may be built within any portion of the county only if the county increases the number of housing units that may be built elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on April 23, 2057.

Report Title:

Counties; Reduction in Housing; Maintaining Residential Capacity

Description:

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

Date	Status
Dec 8, 2025	Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Mar 12, 2025	The committee(s) on HSG recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
Mar 7, 2025	Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 03-12-25 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Mar 6, 2025	Referred to HSG, JHA, referral sheet 19
Mar 6, 2025	Pass First Reading
Mar 4, 2025	Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 66) in amended form (SD 1).
Mar 4, 2025	Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye, Kim, McKelvey, Moriwaki. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Lee, C.). Transmitted to House.
Feb 28, 2025	48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.
Feb 28, 2025	Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 994) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
Feb 20, 2025	The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.
Feb 18, 2025	The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 10:01AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
Feb 3, 2025	Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
Feb 3, 2025	Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 8) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
Jan 28, 2025	The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HOU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Aquino, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
Jan 22, 2025	The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
Jan 23, 2025	Re-Referred to HOU, JDC.
Jan 16, 2025	Referred to HOU/EIG, JDC.
Jan 15, 2025	Introduced and passed First Reading.
Jan 8, 2025	Pending Introduction.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 4, 2025	Third Reading	Senate Floor	24 0 1 Passed
Feb 20, 2025	The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary	4 0 1 Passed
Jan 28, 2025	The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	Senate Standing Committee on Housing	4 0 1 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
County of Honolulu	** Against
Department of Planning and Permitting of the City	** Against

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

SSCR994 SMA SSCR Ainoa Naniole 2 11 2011-01-28T03:25:00Z 2025-03-01T03:05:00Z 2025-03-01T03:05:00Z 2 311 1595 House of Representatives 21689 69 22 1903 16.00 Print 0 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 994

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 25

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 25 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize a county to reduce the number of housing units that may be built within any portion of the county only if the county increases the number of housing units that may be built elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the State is facing an acute housing shortage. Currently, the counties maintain the power to change zoning ordinances that can potentially reduce the amount of housing in a certain zone. By prohibiting the counties from decreasing the overall potential housing supply, this measure will align the State's stated dedication to easing the housing supply shortage and stimulating housing production throughout the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of April 23, 2057, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 25, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 25, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair

SSCR8 SMA SSCR Ainoa Naniole 2 35 2025-01-30T17:35:00Z 2025-02-03T19:16:00Z 2025-02-03T19:16:00Z 2 294 1544 House of Representatives 21382 65 19 1836 16.00 Print 0 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 8

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 25

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 25 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that alleviating the State's housing shortage requires creative solutions to ensure sufficient housing for all residents, despite the State's limited availability of land. Under existing law, the counties have the authority to determine zoning requirements, including residential capacity for housing built in a specific area of the county. However, in the event the county makes modifications, there must be safeguards to ensure no net loss of residential capacity to maximize the availability of housing. Therefore, this measure advances the State's housing priorities while providing the counties with necessary flexibility.

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 S.B. No. 25 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair

Discussed in Hearing

24SEC

Authors shown for version:
SB25_SD1 (2/28/2025)

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

SB 25: Counties; Reduction in Housing; Maintaining Residential Capacity

Current Status:

House Standing Committee on Housing

Senate Floor

Senate Standing Committee on Housing