RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Housing

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Rules for Disposing of Abandoned Property in Public Housing

This bill allows the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to sell, donate, or dispose of abandoned property in federal public housing projects and requires them to notify known owners.

What This Bill Does

Allows the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to sell, donate, or dispose of property that has been abandoned or seized in federal public housing projects.
Requires HPHA to send a notice by certified mail at least five days before disposing of the property if the owner is known.
Creates procedures for people who are entitled to the abandoned property to reclaim it before disposal.
Sets rules for handling and selling items worth $500 or more through public auctions.

Who It Names or Affects

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority
Owners of abandoned or seized property in federal public housing projects

Terms To Know

Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA): A government agency responsible for managing and maintaining public housing in Hawaii.
Abandoned Property: Property that has been left behind by its owner without any intention to return or claim it.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the property is worth less than $500.
It is unclear how HPHA will determine the value of abandoned items for disposal purposes.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment allows the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to sell, donate, or dispose of abandoned or seized property in public housing projects after giving proper notice to owners.

The authority can now sell, donate, or dispose of abandoned or seized property in federal public housing projects.
Owners must be notified at least five days before the property is disposed of if their identity and address are known.
For items valued at $500 or more, there must be a statewide or local publication notice and a public auction unless no bids are received.
The authority can hold proceeds from sales in trust for thirty days before using them to offset any amounts owed by the owner.

The amendment text does not specify what happens if an item's value is between $500 and a lower threshold, which might be unclear.
It is unclear why the effective date is set for July 1, 3000, as this seems unusually far in the future.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-11 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-11 H
Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 411) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-02-05 H
The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica, Pierick.
2025-01-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 02-05-25 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to HSG, JHA, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.
Public Housing; HPHA; Federal Public Housing Projects; Abandoned Property; Seized Property
Allows the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to sell, donate, or dispose of property abandoned or seized in federal public housing projects. Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to notify the known owner of the abandoned or seized property. Creates procedures for persons entitled to the abandoned or seized property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1094

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1094

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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Chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding to part II a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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"
�356D-

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Disposition of abandoned or seized
property
.
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(a)
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The authority may sell, donate, or otherwise
dispose of property abandoned or seized in or around any public housing project
upon compliance with the requirements of this section.

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(b)
�
The authority shall send notice by certified
mail, at least five calendar days prior to disposition of the abandoned or
seized property, to the address of the owner of the property abandoned or
seized if the owner is known or can be determined.
�
The notice shall apprise the owner of the
identity and location of the property abandoned or seized and of the intent of
the authority to sell, donate, or otherwise dispose of the property.
�
If the identity or the address of the owner
is unknown or cannot be determined, the notice shall be posted on the premises
on which the property was abandoned or seized.

����
(c)
�
If the abandoned or seized property has an
estimated value of $500 or more per item, the authority shall also give public
notice of the disposition at least once statewide or in a publication of local
circulation in the county in which the property was abandoned or seized;
provided that the disposition shall not take place fewer than five days after
the notice of intent to dispose of the property.
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The value of the items shall be estimated at
the discretion of the authority.

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(d)
�
The sale of abandoned or seized property
having an estimated value of $500 or more per item as estimated at the
discretion of the authority shall be by public auction through oral offers in
the county in which the property was abandoned or seized.
�
If no bid is received, the property may be
disposed of as the authority deems appropriate.

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(e)
�
Any person entitled to the abandoned or
seized property may repossess the property prior to its disposition upon proof
of entitlement and payment of all unpaid rent, debts, charges, and fines owed
to the authority and all handling, storage (not less than $25 per day),
appraisal, advertising, and any other expenses incurred in connection with the
proposed disposition of the abandoned or seized property.

����
(f)
�
The requirement of public notice and public
auction pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) shall not apply when the value of
the abandoned or seized property is less than $500 per item.
�
Such property may be disposed of as the
authority deems appropriate.

����
(g)
�
The proceeds of the sale of abandoned or
seized property, after deduction of all unpaid rent, debts, charges, and fines
owed to the authority, and all expenses of handling, storge, appraisal,
advertising, and other sale expenses, shall be first offset against any amounts
owed by the owner to the State.
�
Any
amount remaining shall be held in trust for the owner of the property for
thirty days, after which time the proceeds shall be paid into the authority
ꞌ
s
appropriate special fund.

����
(h)
�
The State, its officers, employees, and
agents shall not be liable to the owner of abandoned or seized property for
actions taken pursuant to this section.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Public
Housing; HPHA; Abandoned Property; Seized Property

Description:

Allows
the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to sell, donate, or dispose of
property abandoned or seized in federal public housing projects.
�
Requires the HPHA to notify the known owner
of the abandoned or seized property.
�

Creates procedures for persons entitled to the abandoned or seized
property.

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