HB294 • 2026

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS LEASES.

Active

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

Sponsor: GARCIA, ALCOS, MATSUMOTO, MURAOKA, PIERICK, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, WARD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how many native Hawaiian families will benefit from this change, making it uncertain.

Making Hawaiian Homes Leases Better

This bill requires that leases used in the conveyance of available lands under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act conform to the requirements for securitization by federally insured lending programs.

What This Bill Does

Requires leases used in the conveyance of available lands as defined by section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, as amended, to conform to the requirements for securitization by federally insured lending programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Native Hawaiian families with homestead leases under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Terms To Know

Securitization: A process where loans are grouped together and sold as a single financial product.
Federally insured lending programs: Programs like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac that help people get mortgages by guaranteeing the loans to lenders.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill will not take effect until it gets approval from federal authorities.
It is unclear how many native Hawaiian families will benefit directly from this change.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to HSG, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS LEASES.
DHHL; Hawaiian Homes Commission Act; Leases; Minority Caucus Package
Requires leases used in the conveyance of available lands as defined by section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, as amended, to conform to the requirements for securitization by federally insured lending programs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB294

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

294

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to DEPARTMENT of hawaiian homelands leases
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that lack of funding
sources can be an impediment to native Hawaiian families that have held
homestead leases under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
�
Specifically, current lease documents fail to
conform to the requirements of federally insured leading programs such as Fannie
Mae or Freddie Mac.

����
The purpose of this Act is to
modernize the language used in all leases relating to the conveyance of
�available lands� as designated in section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission
Act, 1920, as amended, such that it conforms to the requirements for securitization
of federally insured lending programs such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

����
SECTION 2.
�
The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as
amended, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�
.
�
Land leases; specific language
required.
�
Notwithstanding
any provision of this Act to the contrary, any land lease used in the
conveyance of �available lands� as defined in section 203 of the Hawaii Homes
Commission Act shall conform in all respects to the requirements for
securitization by federally insured lending programs.
�

����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on either the date of the Secretary of
the Interior's notification letter to the Congressional Committee Chairmen that
this Act meets none of the criteria in 43 CFR section 48.20, or on the date
that the United States Congress approval becomes law
.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHHL; Hawaiian
Homes Commission Act; Leases; Minority Caucus Package

Description:

Requires
leases used in the conveyance of available lands as

defined
by section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, as

amended,
to conform to the requirements for securitization by

federally
insured lending programs.

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