HB1467 • 2026

RELATING TO HOUSING RESILIENCY.

Budget Housing

Active

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

Sponsor: AMATO, BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, IWAMOTO, PERRUSO
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not create an entitlement for homeowners and does not obligate the state to fund inspections or retrofits.

Strengthen Hawaii Homes Act

This bill establishes a program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide grants for retrofitting residential properties in disaster-prone areas to enhance resilience against disasters.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT).
Provides grants for residents to retrofit their homes to withstand disasters better and potentially lower insurance costs.
Defines 'disaster' as including floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other events determined by DBEDT.
Establishes criteria for eligibility, such as property location in a historically vulnerable area and owner-occupancy status.

Who It Names or Affects

Homeowners living in areas prone to natural disasters in Hawaii.
Nonprofit organizations that can apply for funds to help homeowners retrofit their properties.
The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) which will manage the program.

Terms To Know

Historically vulnerable area: A geographic region with a history of significant disaster impacts based on historical data.
Resilience: The ability to recover quickly from difficulties, such as natural disasters.

Limits and Unknowns

Funding is subject to availability and may come from federal grants or other sources in addition to legislative appropriations.
The program's effectiveness depends on the willingness of residents to apply and participate.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: The amendment establishes a program to provide grants for modifying and strengthening residential properties to improve their resilience against disasters and reduce insurance liabilities.

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Defines key terms such as 'disaster', 'nonprofit organization', 'program', and 'residential property'.
Sets requirements for grant applications including eligibility criteria based on income levels and property conditions.

The amendment text is truncated, so some details about the program's implementation are not provided.
Specific funding sources or amounts are not mentioned in the given text.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: The amendment establishes a program called the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Act which provides grants for homeowners to improve their homes' resilience against natural disasters and reduce insurance costs.

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Provides grants to modify and strengthen residential properties to enhance disaster resilience and lower potential insurance liabilities.
Requires applicants for grants to meet certain eligibility criteria including income limits and property type restrictions.

The amendment does not specify the exact amount of funding available or how it will be allocated.
Details on the specific technologies and methods used in strengthening homes are not provided in this text.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-20 S
The committee on EDT deferred the measure.
2025-03-17 S
The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to EDT, WAM/CPN.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 377).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1126), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-25 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kitagawa, Ward.
2025-02-21 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 02-25-25 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 782) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-13 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.
2025-02-11 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 02-13-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-06 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Ward excused (1).
2025-02-06 H
Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 207) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
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.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to HSG, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HOUSING RESILIENCY.
DBEDT; Strengthen Hawaii Homes Act; Housing; Disaster Resiliency; Grants; Appropriation ($)
Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1467

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1467

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to housing resiliency
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The purpose of
this Act is to establish the strengthen Hawaii homes program, which will be
dedicated to retrofitting residential properties in historically vulnerable
areas to:

����
(1)
�
Enhance
those properties' resilience against disaster impacts; and

����
(2)
�
Reduce
potential insurance liabilities.

����
SECTION 2.
�

The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to title
13 to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"
Chapter

strengthen
hawaii homes act

����
�
��

-1
�
Short title.
�
This Act shall be known and may be cited as
the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Act.

����
�
��

-2
�
Definitions.
�
As used in this chapter:

����
"Department" means the department
of business, economic development, and tourism.

����
"Disaster" includes floods,
hurricanes, earthquakes, and other causes as determined by the department.

����
"Historically vulnerable area"
means a geographic area identified by historical data to have experienced
significant impacts from disasters.

����
"Nonprofit organization" means an
entity that is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under the Internal
Revenue Code and is registered to do business in the State.

����
"Program" means the strengthen
Hawaii homes program.

����
"Residential property" means an
owner-occupied, single‑family, primary residence in the State.
�
"Residential property" does not
include a condominium or mobile home.

����
�
��

-3
�
Strengthen Hawaii homes program;
established.
�
(a)
�
There is established within the department
the strengthen Hawaii homes program, under which the department shall provide financial
support to modify and strengthen existing residential properties located in
historically vulnerable areas to improve their resilience to disasters and
reduce potential insurance liabilities.

����
(b)
�
Implementation
of the program shall be subject to the availability of funds.
�
The department shall use its best efforts to
obtain grants or other funding from the federal government or other funding
sources to supplement any moneys appropriated by the legislature to the
department for the program.

����
(c)
�

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as creating an entitlement
for residential property owners or obligating the State in any way to fund the
inspection, construction, or retrofitting of residential properties.

����
�
��

-4
�
Grants; applications; eligibility.
�
(a)
�
A
grant application shall be filed with the department in the form and manner
prescribed by the department, along with any applicable fees.

����
(b)
�

To be eligible for a grant under the program, a person shall:

����
(1)
�
Demonstrate
that the person possesses residential property located in a historically
vulnerable area; provided that, if an application is denied because the
department finds that the property is not located in a historically vulnerable
area, the applicant may appeal that finding as provided by rule;

����
(2)
�
Establish
that the residential property is an owner‑occupied, single-family,
primary residence and not a condominium or mobile home;

����
(3)
�
Establish
that the residential property is in good repair; provided that this paragraph
shall not disqualify residential property that has been damaged by a disaster;

����
(4)
�
Consult
with an evaluator to conduct the property evaluation required by section
�����
-6, and submit the results of the
evaluation to the department;

����
(5)
�
Agree
to allow the department to inspect or reinspect the residential property, including
by conducting random inspections or reinspections; and

����
(6)
�
Meet
any other requirements set forth by the department for the specific grant the
applicant is seeking; provided that the department shall not establish
requirements relating to a residential property's insurance coverage.

����
(c)
�

The department may require a person to submit documentation or a written
affirmation to verify that the person meets the requirements of subsection (b).

����
(d)
�

Grant applications shall be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
within each income tier established by the department.

����
(e)
�
Priority
for the award of grants shall be given to applicants:

����
(1)
�
Whose
households have an income of not more than one hundred sixty per cent of
the area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development; and

����
(2)
�
Who
meet any other criteria that the department determines is appropriate to meet
the purposes of the program.

����
(f)
�

Any entity that provides moneys to the program may establish additional
rules and guidelines under which those moneys may be used; provided that the
rules and guidelines do not violate any state or federal law.

����
(g)
�

The department shall clearly explain the terms of each grant offered
under the program for the purpose of ensuring transparency and equity in the
allocation of funds.

����
(h)
�

Documents, materials, and other information submitted to the department
by residential property owners or insurance companies in support of a grant application
shall be confidential and, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, shall
not be:

����
(1)
�
Subject
to disclosure under chapter 92F;

����
(2)
�
Subject
to subpoena;

����
(3)
�
Subject
to discovery; or

����
(4)
�
Admissible
as evidence in any private civil action.

����
�
��

-5
�
Availability of funds for
nonprofit organizations.
�
(a)
�
If the department obtains grants or other
funds under rules that authorize the funds to be issued to nonprofit
organizations, then the department, by contract, may make moneys available to nonprofit
organizations that retrofit residential properties to resist loss due to disasters.

����
(b)
�

Any contract with a nonprofit organization under this section shall
require the nonprofit organization to agree to:

����
(1)
�
Administer
the moneys under the same terms that would be applicable if the moneys were
administered by the department under this chapter; and

����
(2)
�
Allow
the department, legislative committees and their staff, and the auditor full
access to the nonprofit organization's records, reports, files, and other
related documents and information for the purposes of monitoring, measuring the
effectiveness of, and ensuring the proper expenditure of funds.

����
�
��

-6
�
Evaluation of residential
property by evaluator.
�
(a)
�
A person who owns residential property and who
seeks to retrofit that residential property under this chapter shall select an
evaluator from a list of evaluators published by the department pursuant to
section
�����
-7 to conduct the evaluation
required by subsection (b).

����
(b)
�

The evaluator shall examine the person's residential property and shall
identify all improvements necessary for the residential property to achieve the
following standards:

����
(1)
�
Insurance
Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof;

����
(2)
�
Insurance
Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified silver;

����
(3)
�
Insurance
Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified gold; or

����
(4)
�
Any
similar standard approved by the department,

or any
successor designation; provided that if the evaluator determines that the
residential property is not able to be improved to meet any of the standards
described in this subsection, then the evaluator shall make a determination
that the residential property is not mitigable and the residential property
owner shall not be eligible for a grant under this chapter.

����
(c)
�

The residential property owner shall pay the evaluator a fee, which shall
be set by the department by rule.

����
�
��

-7
�
Evaluators; eligibility;
listing.
�
(a)
�
To serve as an evaluator under this chapter,
a person shall:

����
(1)
�
Meet
all program requirements established under this chapter or the rules adopted under
this chapter;

����
(2)
�
Be
in good standing with:

���������
(A)
�
The
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety and maintain an active
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety certification as a fortified
home evaluator; or

���������
(B)
�
Another
organization approved by the department;

����
(3)
�
Agree
to follow program requirements established under this chapter or the rules
adopted under this chapter;

����
(4)
�
Maintain
with the department proof that the evaluator:

���������
(A)
�
Is
registered to do business in the State; and

���������
(B)
�
Has
an active Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified home
evaluator certification or other certification approved by the department;

����
(5)
�
Maintain
current and accurate contact information with the department;

����
(6)
�
Pay
all fees associated with any certifications required under this chapter,
including any training fees;

����
(7)
�
Not
have a financial interest in any project which the person inspects for
designation purposes pursuant to this chapter;

����
(8)
�
Not
be a contractor or supplier of any materials, products, or systems installed in
any home that the person inspects for purposes of this chapter;

����
(9)
�
Not
be a sales agent for any home being designated under the program;

���
(10)
�
Report
to the department any conflicts of interest; and

���
(11)
�
Meet
any other eligibility requirements established by the department.

����
(b)
�

The department shall publish and maintain on its website a list of
evaluators who meet the eligibility requirements of this section.

����
�
��

-8
�
Use of grant moneys;
conditions.
�
(a)
�
The residential property owner shall hire a contractor
who meets the requirements set forth in section
�����
-9 to perform the improvements necessary for
the residential property to achieve one of the designations specified in
section
�����
-6(b).

����
(b)
�
A
retrofit project for which a grant is issued shall be completed no later than
six months after the date the residential property owner receives notice of the
grant approval.
�
Failure to complete a
project within the required timeframe may result in the forfeiture of the
grant.

����
(c)
�

Grant funds shall not be paid until a certificate has been issued for
the fortified standard, pursuant to rules adopted by the department.
�
Grant moneys shall be paid by the department,
on behalf of the residential property owner, directly to the contractor who
performed the retrofit work; provided that the department may delegate payment
under this subsection to another agency.

����
(d)
�

A residential property owner shall be responsible for any amount that is
owed to a contractor that exceeds the amount of awarded grant moneys.

����
(e)
�

Grant moneys shall not be used for maintenance or repairs.

����
(f)
�

Notwithstanding subsection (e), grant moneys may be used in conjunction
with repairs or reconstruction necessary to address damage from a disaster.

����
(g)
�
All
retrofit activities shall comply with applicable:

����
(1)
�
Building
codes;

����
(2)
�
Permitting
and inspection requirements; and

����
(3)
�
Standards
established by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety Fortified
Homes Program or other applicable standard under section
�����
-6(b).

����
(h)
�

The department may conduct random inspections of funds, records, and
residential properties for the purposes of preventing or detecting fraud.

����
�
��

-9
�
Contractors; eligibility.
�
(a)
�
A
person receiving a grant under this chapter shall hire a contractor who meets
the eligibility requirements of subsection (b) to perform the retrofit work.

����
(b)
�

To be eligible to perform retrofit work under this chapter, a contractor
shall:

����
(1)
�
Be
certified by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety or another
organization approved by the department;

����
(2)
�
Be
capable of performing work that satisfies the standards prescribed by this
chapter and any rules adopted under this chapter;

����
(3)
�
Meet
all program requirements established under this chapter and any rules adopted under
this chapter;

����
(4)
�
Maintain
with the department proof that the contractor:

���������
(A)
�
Is
licensed under chapter 444;

���������
(B)
�
Is
registered to do business in the State;

���������
(C)
�
Maintains
a general liability policy of $500,000 in liability coverage;

���������
(D)
�
Maintains
workers' compensation as required by law; and

���������
(E)
�
Has
an active Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof
contractor certification or fortified professional certification, or another
certification approved by the department;

����
(5)
�
Maintain
current and accurate contact information with the department;

����
(6)
�
Have
no record of disciplinary action by the contractors license board;

����
(7)
�
Pay
all fees associated with any certifications required under this chapter,
including any training fees;

����
(8)
�
Agree
to follow all policies and procedures required by the department;

����
(9)
�
Not
have a financial interest in any project funded by the program for which the
contractor is performing work, other than receiving payment on behalf of the
homeowner from the program;

���
(10)
�
Report
to the department any conflicts of interest before work commences;

���
(11)
�
Not
be the evaluator for any project funded under the program; and

���
(12)
�
Meet
any other eligibility requirements established by the department.

����
(c)
�

The department shall not endorse or provide preferential treatment to
any contractor.

����
�
��

-10
�
Strengthen Hawaii homes program
special fund.
�
(a)
�
There is established the strengthen Hawaii
homes program special fund, into which shall be deposited:

����
(1)
�
Federal
moneys received for the program or designated for deposit into the special
fund;

����
(2)
�
Monies
received by the department from grants or other funding sources designated for
deposit into the special fund;

����
(3)
�
Fees
collected pursuant to this chapter;

����
(4)
�
Appropriations
by the legislature into the special fund;

����
(5)
�
Any
interest earned on moneys in the special fund; and

����
(6)
�
Moneys
from any other sources designated for deposit into the special fund.

����
(b)
�

Moneys from the strengthen Hawaii homes program special fund, subject to
the availability of moneys in the fund, including from federal sources, grants,
and other contributions, shall be available to the department for the purposes
of the program.
�
Expenditures from the
fund shall comply with the requirements of this chapter.

����
�
��

-11
�
Annual reports.
�
No later than twenty days prior to the
convening of each regular session, the department shall submit a report to the
legislature that includes:

����
(1)
�
The
number of homes retrofitted under the program during the previous year;

����
(2)
�
Revenues
and expenditures from the strengthen Hawaii homes program special fund;

����
(3)
�
Changes
in vulnerability and insurance accessibility observed by the department,
including short-term and long-term trends; and

����
(4)
�
Any
other findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation.

����
�
��

-12
�
Rules.
�
(a)
�

The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary to
implement this chapter, including rules that address eligibility requirements,
application procedures, procedures for appeals, conditions on the use of funds,
and fees."

����
SECTION
3
.
�
There is appropriated out of the
strengthen
Hawaii homes
program special fund the sum of $
����������
or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the strengthen Hawaii homes program.

����
The
sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic
development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED
BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT; Strengthen
Hawaii Homes Act; Housing; Disaster Resiliency; Grants; Special Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the
strengthen Hawaii homes
program
within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to
administer
grants to retrofit residential properties located in historically vulnerable
areas to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential
insurance liabilities.
�
Establishes the strengthen
Hawaii homes program special fund.
�

Appropriates moneys from the special fund.

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