HB416 • 2026

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Housing

Active

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

Sponsor: EVSLIN
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information on the exact date when the bill will be effective other than it is stated as '7/1/3000'.

Housing Development Exemption Bill

This bill allows certain state-financed housing developments to skip getting approval from the county council.

What This Bill Does

Removes the requirement for state-funded housing projects to get approval from the local county council.
Gives county planning directors the power to reject permit applications if there isn't enough infrastructure in place.

Who It Names or Affects

State-funded housing developers
County councils and planning departments

Terms To Know

Housing projects: Buildings or areas designed for people to live in, often with support from the government.
Infrastructure: Basic physical and organizational structures needed for a community to function, like roads, water systems, and electricity.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if there is no infrastructure in place.
It's unclear how this will affect local communities' ability to plan their development.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment exempts certain state-financed housing developments from needing approval by the county council, allows a planning director to reject permit applications due to lack of infrastructure, and sets conditions for housing projects.

State-financed housing projects within urban land use districts are exempt from county legislative body approval if they have received financing commitment from the State.
A county planning director can reject permit applications within thirty days if there is a lack of necessary infrastructure for state-financed projects in urban areas.
Housing projects must meet specific conditions, including health and safety standards, not imposing stricter income requirements than those set by the State, and requiring all units to be exclusively for qualified residents.

The amendment text specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may indicate a placeholder or error.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-13 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, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-13 H
Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 585) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-02-07 H
The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Grandinetti; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kila.
2025-02-04 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Friday, 02-07-25 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to HSG, JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HOUSING.
Housing Development; HHFDC; County Council Approval Exemption; State‑Financing; Infrastructure
Exempts certain state-financed housing developments from the requirement to obtain approval from the applicable county council. Authorizes a county planning director to reject certain permit applications due to a lack of infrastructure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB416

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

416

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to housing
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 201H-38, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

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"
(a)
�

The corporation may develop on behalf of the State or with an eligible
developer, or may assist under a government assistance program in the
development of, housing projects that shall be exempt from all statutes,
charter provisions, ordinances, and rules of any government agency relating to
planning, zoning, construction standards for subdivisions, development and
improvement of land, and the construction of dwelling units thereon; provided
that [
either
]:

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(1)
�
The housing projects meet the following
conditions:

���������
(A)
�
The
corporation finds the housing project is consistent with the purpose and intent
of this chapter, and meets minimum requirements of health and safety;

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(B)
�
The
development of the proposed housing project does not contravene any safety
standards, tariffs, or rates and fees approved by the public utilities
commission for public utilities or of the various boards of water supply
authorized under chapter 54;

���������
(C)
�
The
legislative body of the county in which the housing project is to be situated has
approved the project with or without modifications:

�������������
(i)
�
The
legislative body shall approve, approve with modification, or disapprove the
project by resolution within forty-five days after the corporation has
submitted the preliminary plans and specifications for the project to the
legislative body.
�
If on the forty-sixth
day a project is not disapproved, it shall be deemed approved by the
legislative body;

������������
(ii)
�
No
action shall be prosecuted or maintained against any county, its officials, or
employees on account of actions taken by them in reviewing, approving,
modifying, or disapproving the plans and specifications; and

�����������
(iii)
�
The
final plans and specifications for the project shall be deemed approved by the
legislative body if the final plans and specifications do not substantially
deviate from the preliminary plans and specifications.
�
The final plans and specifications for the
project shall constitute the zoning, building, construction, and subdivision
standards for that project.
�
For purposes
of sections 501‑85 and 502-17, the executive director of the corporation
or the responsible county official may certify maps and plans of lands
connected with the project as having complied with applicable laws and
ordinances relating to consolidation and subdivision of lands, and the maps and
plans shall be accepted for registration or recordation by the land court and
registrar;

�������������
provided
further that projects that have received financing from the State shall be
exempt from approval by the legislative body of the county in which the housing
project is to be situated;
and

���������
(D)
�
The
land use commission has approved, approved with modification, or disapproved a
boundary change within forty-five days after the corporation has submitted a
petition to the commission as provided in section 205‑4.
�
If, on the forty-sixth day, the petition is
not disapproved, it shall be deemed approved by the commission; or

����
(2)
�
The
housing projects:

���������
(A)
�
Meet
the conditions of paragraph (1);

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(B)
�
Do
not impose stricter income requirements than those adopted or established by
the State; and

���������
(C)
�
For
the lifetime of the project, require one hundred per cent of the units in the
project be exclusively for qualified residents
."

����
SECTION 2.
�

This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION 3.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Housing
Development; County Council Approval Exemption; State‑Financing

Description:

Exempts state-financed housing developments from the
requirement to obtain approval from the applicable county council.

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