RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Housing

Active

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

Sponsor: LA CHICA, AMATO, GRANDINETTI, HOLT, IWAMOTO, LAMOSAO, LOWEN, MARTEN, OLDS, PERRUSO, TODD
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.

Allowing Tenants to Recover Damages in Landlord-Tenant Lawsuits

This bill allows tenants who win a lawsuit against their landlord for violating the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to receive damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs.

What This Bill Does

Allows tenants who win a lawsuit against their landlord for violating the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages.
Gives winning tenants reasonable attorney's fees if they sue their landlord.
Covers the cost of the lawsuit for tenants who win.

Who It Names or Affects

Tenants in Hawaii who have won lawsuits against landlords for violating the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code.

Terms To Know

Residential Landlord-Tenant Code: A set of rules that governs the rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants in residential properties.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not affect any legal actions or penalties that happened before it was approved.
It is unclear how much money tenants will receive for damages, as this depends on each case.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.
Residential Landlord-tenant Code; Damages; Attorney's Fees
Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB635

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

635

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the residential landlord-tenant code
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that residential
tenants may be vulnerable to landlords who violate the State's residential
landlord-tenant code.
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Tenants who have
been subjected to unfair or unlawful treatment may find themselves unable to
protect their rights without initiating expensive lawsuits.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to provide more legal protections for residential tenants by allowing
tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the residential
landlord-tenant code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs
of the suit.

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SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 521, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part VI to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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"
�521-
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Amount
of recovery.
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Except as
otherwise provided in this chapter and notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, any tenant who is directly affected by a violation of this chapter
may sue for damages, and if the judgment is for the plaintiff, the plaintiff
shall be awarded:

����
(1)
�
A sum of no
less than $1,000, or threefold the plaintiff's sustained damages, whichever is
greater;

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(2)
�
Reasonable
attorney's fees; and

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(3)
�
The costs of
the suit.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were
begun before its effective date.

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SECTION
4.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Residential
Landlord-tenant Code; Damages; Attorney's Fees

Description:

Allows
tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential
Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs
of the suit.

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