SB2866 • 2026

RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.

Housing

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: MORIWAKI, CHANG, ELEFANTE, HASHIMOTO, INOUYE
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on funding beyond fiscal year 2026-2027 or the creation of new staff positions, which were included in the candidate explanation.

Making the Kupuna Housing Rent Support Program Permanent

This bill removes the expiration date from a program that helps elderly people in Hawaii pay their rent, ensuring it continues indefinitely.

What This Bill Does

Removes the end date for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna, which provides rental assistance to vulnerable elderly residents.

Who It Names or Affects

Elderly residents in Hawaii who receive rental assistance through the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna.
The Hawaii Public Housing Authority, which administers the program and hires new staff positions.

Terms To Know

Kupuna: Elderly people in Hawaiian culture
Sunset date: The end date when a law or program stops being effective

Limits and Unknowns

It is not clear how the program will be funded beyond fiscal year 2026-2027.
The bill does not specify what happens if the initial funding runs out before new funds are allocated.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2866 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2866 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2866 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2866 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2866 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2866 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2866 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2866 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2866 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KUPUNA 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; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: 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. 129-26) 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. 129-26).
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Hartsfield, Olds, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; 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, San Buenaventura, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 2:40 PM; Conference Room 329.
2026-04-30 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 224.
2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 329.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 329.
2026-04-22 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-23-26 3:00PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-21 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Chang Chair; San Buenaventura, Moriwaki Co-Chairs.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Olds, Garcia.
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-10 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2108-26), 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: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1375-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-19 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 311) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). 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. 2905) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-03 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-02-27 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-17 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-17 S
Reported from HOU/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2281) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey, Fevella.
2026-02-10 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.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on HOU/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Referred to HOU/HHS, WAM.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.
HPHA; State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna
Repeals the sunset date for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2866

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2866

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to kupuna housing
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the state
rent supplement program for kupuna administered by the Hawaii public housing
authority has helped prevent some of the State's vulnerable elderly residents
from facing eviction and becoming homeless.
�

In total, the program has provided about three hundred at-risk kupuna
with monthly rental assistance of less than $500 per month.
�
In 2024, the legislature funded the program
with $1,000,000 and in 2025, the legislature extended the program's sunset date
from 2026 to 2028.
�
The legislature
believes that the program should now be made permanent.

����
The
legislature further finds that the initial appropriation has been nearly
exhausted and that supplemental funding is necessary to sustain the program.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Make the state rent supplement program for
kupuna permanent; and

����
(2)
�
Appropriate funds for the program and for
positions to support the program.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Act 98, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023,
as amended by Act 282, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending
section 6 to read as follows:

����
"SECTION
6.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2023[
, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028
]."

����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $110,160 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of two
full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist II positions
within the Hawaii public housing authority to support the state rent supplement
program for kupuna.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the
purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION
4.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,160,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the state rent
supplement program for kupuna; provided that the funds appropriated under this
section shall be in addition to the base budget of the Hawaii public housing
authority for the state rent supplement program.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the
purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION
5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.

����
SECTION
6.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

HPHA;
State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna; Appropriation

Description:

Repeals
the sunset for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna.
�
Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public
Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna and for
positions to support the program.

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