STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1651-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 126

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 126 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING ALL STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES TO FOLLOW THE TRUE INTENT OF CHAPTER 201H, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, AND THE EXPRESS PROVISIONS OF SECTION 201H-38, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, RATHER THAN IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS AND PROCESSES, TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge all state and county agencies to follow the true intent of chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the express provisions of section 201H-38, Hawaii Revised Statutes, rather than impose additional restrictions and processes, to address the shortage of affordable housing in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Stanford Carr Development, LLC and Imanaka Asato, LLLC.

Your Committee finds that the critical need for affordable and available housing continue to be a serious problem in the State, with dire, direct ramifications on families and individuals who are unable to secure a stable place to live and negative impacts on the quality of life for all in the State. Your Committee also finds that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (Corporation) is tasked with developing and financing low- and moderate-income housing projects and administering homeownership programs.

Additionally, the Corporation is granted extensive powers to assist in financing and developing affordable housing in the State. Section 201H-38, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the Corporation to develop affordable housing projects that are exempt from all laws, rules, and regulations that impact development, subject to certain conditions. Your Committee notes that the counties are granted the same housing powers and authority as those granted to the Corporation. This measure urges all state and county agencies to embrace the true intent of these statutory powers, as this commitment is vital to the creation of affordable housing throughout the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting that certified copies of this measure be transmitted to all members of each county council; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 126, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 126, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair