HCR8 • 2026

URGING THE COUNTIES TO ACT ON ANY BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF A RESIDENCE THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FOUND BY THE COUNTY TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY OR HEALTH OF AN OLDER ADULT OR PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF RECEIPT OF A COMPLETE APPLICATION.

Active

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

Sponsor: CHUN, AMATO, BELATTI, EVSLIN, GARRETT, GRANDINETTI, HARTSFIELD, HASHEM, ICHIYAMA, ILAGAN, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, LA CHICA, LEE, M., LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAM, TEMPLO, YAMASHITA
Last action: 2026-04-10
Official status: Referred to EIG/HHS.
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.

URGING THE COUNTIES TO ACT ON ANY BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF A RESIDENCE THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FOUND BY THE COUNTY TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY OR HEALTH OF AN OLDER ADULT OR PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF RECEIPT OF A COMPLETE APPLICATION.

What This Bill Does

URGING THE COUNTIES TO ACT ON ANY BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF A RESIDENCE THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FOUND BY THE COUNTY TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY OR HEALTH OF AN OLDER ADULT OR PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF RECEIPT OF A COMPLETE APPLICATION.
Kupuna Caucus; Counties; Building Permit Applications; Expedited Processing; Residence Modifications; Older Adults; Persons with Disabilities

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.

Bill History

2026-04-10 S
Referred to EIG/HHS.
2026-04-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 531).
2026-04-09 H
Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
2026-04-09 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1906-26), recommending adoption.
2026-04-08 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Gedeon.
2026-04-02 H
Resolution scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 04-08-26 9:30AM in conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-04-02 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on ECD with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-04-02 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1729-26), recommending referral to ECD.
2026-04-01 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Amato, Hartsfield.
2026-03-30 H
Resolution scheduled to be heard by HSH on Wednesday, 04-01-26 10:00AM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to HSH, ECD, referral sheet 15
2026-01-26 H
Offered
2026-01-23 H
To be offered.

Official Summary Text

URGING THE COUNTIES TO ACT ON ANY BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF A RESIDENCE THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FOUND BY THE COUNTY TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY OR HEALTH OF AN OLDER ADULT OR PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF RECEIPT OF A COMPLETE APPLICATION.
Kupuna Caucus; Counties; Building Permit Applications; Expedited Processing; Residence Modifications; Older Adults; Persons with Disabilities

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HCR8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

8

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the counties to act on any building permit
application for modification of a residence that is prescribed by a licensed
health care provider and found by the county to be essential to the safety or
health of an older adult or person with a DISABILITY within forty-five days of
receipt of a complete application
.

����
WHEREAS, throughout
the State, older adults, those aged sixty-two years of age or older, are
currently facing months-long delays in receiving approval for building permit
applications for modifications to residences that are needed for safety and
independent living; and

����
WHEREAS, such
modifications often include the installation of ramps, grab bars, widened
doorways, and other features that enable aging in place and reduce reliance on
institutional care; and

����
WHEREAS, prolonged
delays in permit approvals significantly increase the risk of fall-related
injuries, fatalities, and avoidable hospitalizations among older adults,
placing additional strain on emergency medical services and health care systems;
and

����
WHEREAS, falls
are the leading cause of fatal injuries among seniors, with more than two
hundred thirteen preventable, fall-related deaths estimated in 2023; and

����
WHEREAS, timely
approval of building permits for safety‑related home modifications is
critical to advancing public health goals, reducing health care costs, and
supporting the State's commitment to enabling older adults to age safely and
independently in their own homes; and

����
WHEREAS, establishing
a clear timeline for counties to approve or disapprove building permit
applications within forty‑five days of receiving a complete application
will promote efficiency, accountability, and equitable access to essential home
safety improvements; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that each
county is urged to act on any building permit application for modification of a
residence that is prescribed by a licensed health care provider and found by
the county to be essential to the safety or health of an older adult or person
with a disability within forty-five days of the receipt of a complete
application; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Mayors of each county, Director of the Hawaii County Department of Public
Works, Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and
County of Honolulu, County Engineer of the Kauai County Department of Public
Works, and Director of the Maui County Department of Public Works.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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Kupuna
Caucus; Counties; Building Permit Applications; Expedited Processing; Residence
Modifications; Older Adults; Persons with Disabilities