HB212 • 2026

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Budget Housing

Active

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

Sponsor: TAM, IWAMOTO, KILA, KUSCH, LAMOSAO, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, OLDS, POEPOE, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS, TODD
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
OHHS; Homelessness; Return-to-Home Program; Report; Appropriation ($) Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home Program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states.
Requires the Office to report to the Legislature.
Appropriates funds.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB212 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB212 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
212 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS .

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: HB212 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB212 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
212 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB212 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB212 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
212 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 5:00PM in conference room 329.
2025-04-24 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 1:45PM in conference room 329.
2025-04-23 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 1:30PM in conference room 329.
2025-04-21 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 1:30PM in conference room 329.
2025-04-17 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-21-25 1:30PM in conference room 329.
2025-04-16 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 810).
2025-04-16 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Aquino Co-Chair; Fevella.
2025-04-15 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).
2025-04-14 H
House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Tam, Templo, Alcos.
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 602) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-08 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1750) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2025-04-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-02-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-03-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.
2025-03-19 S
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1150) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
2025-03-12 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Keohokalole.
2025-03-07 S
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to HHS, WAM.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 198).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1018) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-24 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-02-21 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 12:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-12 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-12 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 433) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-02-06 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-01-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 02-06-25 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-15 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
OHHS; Homelessness; Return-to-Home Program; Report; Appropriation ($)
Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home Program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states. Requires the Office to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB212

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

212

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO HOMELESSNESS
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the return-to-home
pilot program established by Act 94, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, has been a
success, sending over one hundred homeless individuals back to their home
states in the State's partnership with the Institute for Human Services.
�

����
The
legislature further finds that additional manpower would assist in furthering
the program.
�

����
Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to repeal the pilot program, establish the program
on a permanent basis, and appropriate funds.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 346, Part XVIII, Hawaii
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�346-

Return-to-Home
Program.
(a)
�
The statewide
office on homelessness and housing solutions shall coordinate a voluntary
homeless assistance program, to be known as the return-to-home program, to
provide eligible homeless individuals
with assistance
in being reunited with family and relatives in the individual's home state
.
�
The office shall establish a public-private
partnership by contracting with eligible nonprofit organizations, for-profit
organizations, or foundations to administer the program without regard to
chapters 103D and 103F.
�
The governor's
coordinator on homelessness may assist with the implementation of this program.

����
(b)
�
An individual who is homeless shall be
eligible to participate in the return-to-home program if:

����
(1)
�
The individual's participation is
completely voluntary;

����
(2)
�
The individual, if on parole,
probation, or awaiting a court hearing or sentencing, has proper clearance from
the court to participate in the program; and

����
(3)
�
The
individual is indigent and lacks the financial resources necessary to secure
transportation to return to the individual's home state
.

����
(c)
�
An individual shall participate in the
return-to-home program only once and shall sign an agreement to this effect
before participating in the program.
�
The
agreement shall be kept on file with the statewide office on homelessness and
housing solutions.

����
(d)
�
The return-to-home program shall actively
seek the participation of local airlines, cruise lines, charter companies,
homeless programs, travel agencies, and the visitor industry to coordinate and
implement the program.

����
(e)
�
The return-to-home program shall assist
program participants with necessary and proper preparations for travel,
including obtaining proper identification, accessing public transportation to
the airport, providing orientation relating to airport security, and ensuring
sufficient personal hygiene.

����
(
f
)
�
The statewide office on homelessness and
housing solutions shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations

relating to the
return-to-home program, including any proposed
legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of
each
regular session
.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
Act 94, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023,
is repealed.

����
SECTION
4.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii 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
return-to-home program, including:

����
(1)
�
One
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to assist and supervise the program;
and

����
(2)
�
Operation
costs and other current expenses relating to the program.

����
The
sums

appropriated shall be expended
by the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions for the purposes
of this Act.

����
SECTION
5.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

OHHS;
Homelessness; Return-to-Home Program; Report; Appropriations

Description:

Requires
the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a
permanent Return-to-Home program to return homeless individuals in the State to
families and relatives in their home states.
�

Requires the Office to report to the Legislature.
�
Appropriates funds.

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