SB2378 • 2026

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Housing

Active

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

Sponsor: CHANG
Last action: 2026-03-18
Official status: The committee(s) on HSG recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
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.
Counties; Housing; Expedited Permitting; Insurance; Inspections Clarifies insurance requirements for single-family and multi-family housing projects to obtain expedited permitting from county agencies.
Clarifies that state or county inspectors shall inspect all projects with expedited permits.
Effective 7/1/2050.

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.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2378 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2378 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2378 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB2378 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2378 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2378 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING .

Bill History

2026-03-18 H
The committee(s) on HSG recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
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, WAL, CPC, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 222) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3007) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-03-04 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-27 S
The committee on CPN has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 03-04-26 9:30AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-27 S
The committee(s) on CPN deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 03-04-26 9:35AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-27 S
The committee(s) on CPN added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 03-04-26 9:35AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.
2026-02-19 S
Reported from HOU/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2459) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Fevella.
2026-02-02 S
The committee(s) on HOU/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to HOU/EIG, CPN .
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-16 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HOUSING.
Counties; Housing; Expedited Permitting; Insurance; Inspections
Clarifies insurance requirements for single-family and multi-family housing projects to obtain expedited permitting from county agencies. Clarifies that state or county inspectors shall inspect all projects with expedited permits. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2378

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2378

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, during the regular session of 2025, the legislature
passed Act 295 to address the State's housing shortage.
�
The purpose of Act 295 (2025) was to
establish procedures and requirements for single-family and multi-family housing
projects to apply for an expedited permit.

����
The legislature further finds that, since
the enactment of Act 295 (2025), codified as section 46-90, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, amendments are necessary to provide clarity on insurance matters to
encourage more participation in the program.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
clarify the insurance requirements for participation in the expedited
permitting process for single-family and multi-family housing projects.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 46-90, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended as follows:

����
1.
�
By
amending subsection (b) to read:

����
"
(b)
�
An
applicant or the applicant's agent may submit a request to the county for an
expedited permit if sixty business days have lapsed after the application was
considered complete by the relevant agency and the application has not received
full approval by the county.
�
The request
by the applicant or the applicant's agent shall include:

����
(1)
�
A full and complete set of plans;

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(2)
�
Statements or evidence from the
relevant permitting agencies that adequate infrastructure capacity is available
to service the project site and specified improvements;

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(3)
�
The following information from all
licensed professionals on record:

���������
(A)
�
Policies of insurance that:

��������������
(i)
�
Name the State and county as additional
insurers[
;
]
for general liability insurance;

�������������
(ii)
�
Are in amounts equivalent to at least
$2,000,000; and

������������
(iii)
�
Specifically allow coverage for the
completed project for the period under section 657-8; and

���������
(B)
�
A statement that indemnifies and holds
harmless the State, its officers, agents, and employees and the county, its
officers, agents, and employees[
;
]
from and against claims, damages,
losses, and expenses, including attorney's fees, to the extent caused by a
licensed professional's negligence;

����
(4)
�
A statement that sixty business days
have lapsed without approval since the application would have been considered
complete by the relevant agency; and

����
(5)
�
The required county contractor's
statement."

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2.
�

By amending subsection (f) to read:

����
"
(f)
�
[
Upon completion of construction, the
licensed professional shall certify in writing to the county that a certificate
of occupancy is warranted and all laws, rules, ordinances, and conditions
governing permitted construction have been met, along with any necessary
as-built drawings consistent with the requirements of each county.
]
�
The county shall issue [
the
]
a

certificate
of occupancy
to the applicant and may notate that the
certificate is approved by the licensed professional under an agreement
pursuant to an expedited permit, and not a county official."

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SECTION 3.
�

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

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SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Housing; Counties; Expedited Permitting; Insurance

Description:

Clarifies
insurance requirements for single-family and multi‑family housing
projects to obtain expedited permitting from county agencies.

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