SB2338 • 2026

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Housing Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: HASHIMOTO, CHANG, MORIWAKI, RICHARDS, Kim
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
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 HOUSING.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO HOUSING.
HHFDC; HCDA; HPHA; Executive Director; Deputy Executive Director; Finance Manager; Salary; Employment Contracts Exempts Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation employees from the requirement that their employment actions and job descriptions be subject to approval by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Requires the Executive Director of HHFDC to be paid a salary recommended by its Board of Directors and subject to the approval of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, not to exceed ninety-nine per cent of the salary of the Governor.
Renames the position of Executive Assistant to Deputy Executive Director for HHFDC and increases the salary cap for the Deputy Executive Director.

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.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2338 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2338 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2338 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2338 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2338 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2338 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: SB2338 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2338 HD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2338 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2338 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2338 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2338 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 121-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 121-26).
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Sayama, Miyake; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-30 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.
2026-04-29 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.
2026-04-28 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.
2026-04-27 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.
2026-04-24 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.
2026-04-23 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.
2026-04-21 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Chang Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Elefante.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Evslin, Sayama, Miyake Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
2026-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).
2026-04-10 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 506).
2026-04-09 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Gedeon, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2015-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-07 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.
2026-04-02 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-04-02 H
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.
2026-03-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-30 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Amato, Gedeon, Pierick, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1465-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-03-24 H
The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB with Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Gedeon, Pierick, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-03-20 H
Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1311-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB.
2026-03-18 H
The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Pierick; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Muraoka; and Excused: none.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 03-18-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to HSG, LAB, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 212) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
One Day Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2966) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-05 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-04 S
The committee(s) on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-05-26 12:04PM; CR 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-03 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-05-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-19 S
Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2400) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-02 S
The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-26 S
Referred to HOU, WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-15 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HOUSING.
HHFDC; HCDA; HPHA; Executive Director; Deputy Executive Director; Finance Manager; Salary; Employment Contracts
Exempts Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation employees from the requirement that their employment actions and job descriptions be subject to approval by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Executive Director of HHFDC to be paid a salary recommended by its Board of Directors and subject to the approval of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, not to exceed ninety-nine per cent of the salary of the Governor. Renames the position of Executive Assistant to Deputy Executive Director for HHFDC and increases the salary cap for the Deputy Executive Director. Establishes conditions for the issuance, renewal, and termination of employment contracts issued by the HHFDC, Hawaii Community Development Authority, and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Exempts the Executive Director of HCDA, and officers, agents, and employees appointed by the Executive Director, from the requirement that their employment actions and job descriptions be subject to approval by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Executive Director of HCDA to be paid a salary recommended by the Authority and subject to the approval of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, not to exceed ninety-nine per cent of the salary of the Governor. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2338

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2338

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to Housing
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation and
the Hawaii public housing authority both provide critical services to address
Hawaii's affordable housing crisis.
�
The Hawaii
housing finance and development corporation oversees the financing of
affordable housing and the Hawaii public housing authority manages the public
housing programs and housing choice vouchers.
�
Through these two entities, the supply of
affordable housing in Hawaii has grown, with billions of dollars financed and more
than six thousand public housing units currently being managed.

����
The legislature further finds that the
executive directors of the two entities face different compensation limitations,
with the executive director of the housing authority being paid no more than
the governor, and the executive director of the development corporation being
paid a lower salary of not more than the director of business, economic
development, and tourism--a difference of more than $10,000.
�
In addition, the salary of the executive
assistant of the development corporation is also capped at a percentage of the
executive director's salary.

����
The legislature believes that increasing certain
salary caps will help the State compete with the private sector for highly
skilled individuals and further increase the supply of affordable housing in
Hawaii.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
increase the salary cap for the executive director of the Hawaii housing finance
and development corporation to an amount that does not exceed the governor's
salary, while also increasing the salary cap for the executive assistant.

����
SECTION 2.
�

Section 201H-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending
subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

����
"(a)
�
There is established the Hawaii housing
finance and development corporation to be placed within the department of
business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes only[
.
]
;
provided that the corporation shall have autonomy in personnel matters,
including establishing and filling positions and setting salaries.

�
The corporation shall be a public body and a
body corporate and politic.

����
(b)
�
The
corporation shall employ, exempt from chapter 76 and section 26-35(a)(4), an
executive director and [
an executive assistant.
]
a deputy executive
director.

�
The executive director
shall be paid a salary not to exceed the salary of the [
director of
business, economic development, and tourism.
]
governor.

�
The [
executive assistant
]
deputy
executive director
shall be paid a salary not to exceed [
ninety
]
ninety-five

per cent of the executive director's salary.
�

The corporation may employ, subject to chapter 76, technical experts and
officers, agents, and employees, permanent and temporary, as required.
�
The corporation may also employ officers,
agents, and employees, prescribe their duties and qualifications, and fix their
salaries, not subject to chapter 76, when in the determination of the
corporation, the services to be performed are unique and essential to the
execution of the functions of the corporation.
�
Unless approved by the legislature by
concurrent resolution, the corporation shall not offer any employment contract
that exceeds two years.

�
The
corporation may call upon the attorney general for legal services as it may
require.
�
The corporation may delegate to
one or more of its agents or employees its powers and duties as it deems
proper."

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 356D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

����
"(b)
�

The authority shall employ, exempt from chapter 76 and section
26-35(a)(4), an executive director, an executive assistant, a chief financial
management advisor, a property management branch chief, a chief planner, and a
redevelopment officer, whose salaries shall be set by the board established
under section 356D-3; provided that no salary shall exceed the governor's
salary.
�
The authority may employ,
subject to chapter 76, technical experts and officers, agents, and
employees, permanent or temporary, as required.
�

The authority may also employ officers, agents, and employees; prescribe
their duties and qualifications; and fix their salaries, not subject to chapter
76, when in the determination of the authority, the services to be performed
are unique and essential to the execution of the functions of the authority;
provided that if the authority hires an officer, agent, or employee in a
capacity not subject to chapter 76, the authority shall include in an annual
report to the legislature, to be submitted not later than twenty days prior to
the convening of each regular session, the position descriptions and reasons
for hiring the personnel in a civil service exempt capacity.
�
Unless approved by the legislature by
concurrent resolution, the authority shall not offer any employment contract
that exceeds two years.
�
The
authority may call upon the attorney general for legal services as it may
require.
�
The authority may delegate to
one or more of its agents or employees the powers and duties it deems proper."

����
SECTION 4.
�

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

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

HHFDC; HPHA;
Executive Director Salary; Executive Assistant; Employment Contract

Description:

Increases
the salary cap of the Executive Director of Hawaii Housing Finance and
Development Corporation to an amount that does not exceed the Governor's
salary.
�
Renames the Executive Assistant
to the Deputy Executive Director and increases that position's salary cap to
95% of the Executive Director salary.
�

Prohibits HHFDC and Hawaii Public Housing Authority employment contracts
that exceed 2 years, unless approved by the Legislature.
�
Provides HHFDC with autonomy in personnel
matters.

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