House Standing Committee on Housing

Good morning. We are convening. Today is- What is today? March 21st, 2025. We are convening the House Committee on Housing quick rules that must be read because the morning hearings must adjourn prior to the noon floor session. Not all testifiers may have the opportunity to testify in that event. Know that your written testimony will be considered by the Committee.

I don't believe this committee will be long today. Please keep yourself muted and video off while waiting to testify. After testimony is completed, the Zoom Chat function will allow you to chat with the technical staff only. Please use the chat only for technical issues. If you are disconnected unexpectedly, you may attempt to rejoin the meeting.

If disconnected while presenting testimony, you may be allowed to continue if time permits. Please note the house is not responsible for any bad Internet connections on the testifier's end. In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing or schedule a meeting for decision making.

In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted. Please avoid using any trademark or copyright images. Please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior. Such behavior may be grounds for removal of the hearing without the ability to rejoin. With that said, let's begin.

Chair with HCR HR HCR 11 HR 11 urging the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to continue working with the City and County of Honolulu to efficiently transfer the roads within the Villages of Kapule to the City and County of Honolulu. Chair for the testimony.

We received one piece of testimony in support from HHFDC Dean Minakami. Thank you sir. Is there anyone else in the audience or online wishing to testify? Seeing none, vice chair.

Members, any questions?

No questions? Second measure, HCR 66, HR 60, requesting the State Building Code Council to adopt, amend, or update the State Building Code to authorize point access block. Chair for the testimony.

We received three items of Testimony, two in support and one in opposition. First up, we have Perry Arrasmith—sorry—from Housing Hawaii's Future, in support.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Rep. Grandinetti. First and foremost, mahalo for holding a hearing on this measure. We're in strong support of HCR 66, HR 60. Point access block construction or single stair construction is gaining traction across the United States, especially in communities that are trying to alleviate their chronic housing shortage.

We've seen legislation, and I'll just list it off real quick, legislation enacted in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New York State, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington all in support of this form of construction.

We know that especially in lower density buildings, lower story buildings, this form of construction can bring down housing costs and we feel that it is a commonsense approach that the State of Hawaii through the State Building Code Council should also be considering and weighing. So, we urge you to advance this measure. Thank you very much.

Thank you. We also have testimony from Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, Ted Kaphalis, and from the American Institute of Architects—sorry, Grassroots Institute testimony was in support—and then we have testimony from the American Institute of Architects, AIA, Hawaii State Council, Julia Fink, in opposition. Is there anyone else in the audience or online wishing to testify?

Seeing none. Vice Chair.

Members, any questions?

Okay, moving on to the next reso, HCR 67 requesting the office of the Governor, State Building Code Council, building developments of each county, mayors of each county and chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committees on housing to develop a comprehensive strategy for adopting updated building codes. Chair for the testimony.

We received two items of testimony on this. We have Grassroots Institute of Hawaii in support, not here, and the American Institute of Architects AIA Hawaii State Council in opposition. And they are not here. Is there anybody else in the audience or online wishing to testify? Seeing none, vice chair.

Members any questions?

Next, Resolution HCR 78 declaring the intent that projects with housing units that qualify for housing credits under Act 31, Session Law of Hawaii 2024 are still eligible to receive housing credits after the repeal of that act.

If, how if the housing projects were approved by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation before July 1st, 2031 and requesting the corporation and each county to include certain information when approving housing projects for housing credits. Chair for the testimony.

We received two items of testimony on this. We have Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Dean Minakami in support. Thank you sir. And then we have Naya Po' I Evenoy in support.

Good morning, chair, vice chair, Rep. Grandinetti, Evan Oy on behalf of NYOP Hawaii, we stand in strong support of this measure which just provides clarification as to, you know, projects that are built prior to the repeal date of the Affordable Housing Credits Program remain eligible for award of these credits.

So we just wanted to put that as a clarifying amendment. So thank you for the time and available for questions.

Thank you sir. Is there anybody else in the audience or online wishing to testify? Seeing none, vice chair.

Members, any questions?

Thank you.

Seeing none Moving to our last reso, HR147 establishing a legislative working group for the continued oversight of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands execution of funds Appropriated by Act 279, Session Law of Hawaii 2022. Chair for the testimony please.

I received two pieces of testimony on this item first up, we have Department of Hawaiian Homelands in support. Thank you, ma' am. And we also have one individual in support who label me Khan is not here. Is there anybody else wishing to testify in person or online? Seeing none.

Vice Chair, Members, any questions? Seeing none, we'll take a short recess.

We're back to the House Committee on Housing, Ready for decision making. First up, HCR 11, HR 11, urging the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to continue working with the state, city and County of Honolulu to efficiently transfer the roads within the villages of Kapolei to the city and County of Honolulu. Chair for the vote.

Sorry Members, any questions? Comments, Concerns? Discussion? No. Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry. The recommendation is as is Members, any questions? Discussion? Okay, Chair for the vote.

Voting on HCR 11 and HR 11 simultaneously. Chair's recommendation is to pass as is. [Roll Call] Chair, your recommendation is adopted. Thank you.

Next resolution is HCR 66, HR 60 requesting the state Building Code Council to adopt, amend or update the State building code to authorize point access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories in the state. The recommendation is to pass as is Members, any questions or discussion? Chair Evelyn.

I just want to point out what a good resolution this is and the importance of allowing point access blocks in that our. You know, the US is essentially the only country in the world or one of the only countries in the world that requires these double loaded corridors.

Meaning you need to have two points of access for an apartment building which results in significantly higher construction costs. And we get this really boring paradigm of apartment buildings that all look the same, that have two access points and a corridor in between them.

By having a single stairwell in buildings under six stories, you allow for a lot more creativity. You have more cross ventilation in these units, cheaper units also and a for a more multitude of unit sizes. You know, one to three bedroom units can be done more easily in these types of construction.

So I am in strong support at this resolution and I appreciate all the great testimony we got on it. Thank you Chair.

Members, any other further discussion?

All right, Chair for the vote please. Voting on HCR66 and HR60 at the same time. Chair's recommendation is to pass as is. Noting the excused absences of Representative Cochran, Representative Kila, Representative Kitagawa and Representative La Chica. Are there any Members voting no or with reservations? Seeing none. Chair, your Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Next up is HCR67 requesting the office of the Governor, State Building Code Council, Building Departments of each county, Mayors of each county and Chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committees on Housing. The to develop a comprehensive strategy for adopting updated building codes.

Recommendation is to pass with the HD one to amend the recipients of the Concurrent Resol to remove the Chairs of the Committees on Housing in the Senate and House since they both will be voting on this resolution.

Also add another be it resolved section to include that the comprehensive strategy includes reinstating and adequately fund the State Building Code Council so they can resume its mandate effectively. Members Any questions or discussion?

Chair for the vote Please voting on. HCR67 Vice Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Noting the excused absences of Representative Cochran, Representative Kila, Representative Kitagawa and Representative La Chica. Are there any Members voting no or with reservations? Seeing none. Chair, Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you.

Next up is HCR78 declaring the intent that projects with housing units that qualify for housing Credits under Act 31 Session Laws of Hawaii 2024 are still eligible to receive housing credits after the repeal of that act if the housing projects were approved by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation before July 1, 2031 and requesting the corporation and each county to include certain information when approving housing projects for housing credits.

Recommendation is to pass as is. Members Any discussion or questions? Seeing none. Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HC78 Vice Chair's recommendation is to pass as is noting the excused absences of Representative Cochran, Representative Kila, Representative Kitagawa and Representative La Chica. Are there any Members voting no or with reservations? Seeing none. Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted. Thank you.

Moving on to our last resolution, HR147 establishing a legislative Working Group for the continued oversight of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands execution of funds Appropriated by Act 279 Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. Recommendation is to pass as is Members any questions or discussion?

Comments Yes, I really like this this result. I wish it was a bill and a law. DHHL needs to be held accountable. Too many Hawaiians have been waiting on this list for far too long. So I really really like this.

Thank you. Rep Muraoka. Any other discussion? Seeing none. Chair for the vote please.

Voting on HR 147 Chair's recommendation is to pass as is. Noting the excused absences of Representatives Cochran, Kila, Kitagawa and La Chica. Are there any Members voting with reservations or no? Seeing none. Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Seeing no further business before us.

This meeting is now adjourned.