STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3610

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 154

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 154 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ORDER EXECUTIVE AGENCIES TO REVIEW AND REVISE THEIR POLICIES AND RULES TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN RENTAL TRANSACTIONS AND ADVERTISEMENTS FOR RENTAL TRANSACTIONS BASED ON SOURCE OF INCOME OR PARTICIPATION IN HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Governor to order executive agencies to review and revise their policies and rules to prohibit discrimination in rental transactions and advertisements for rental transactions based on source of income or participation in housing assistance programs.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, and Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

Your Committee finds that Honolulu is one of the largest cities in the United States that does not prohibit source of income discrimination in rental transactions. Source of income discrimination often exacerbates the challenges low-income families face when searching for affordable housing by preventing low-income individuals with housing vouchers from being considered as tenants. Studies show that policies designed to prevent housing discrimination by income source make applicants with housing vouchers twelve percent more likely to find housing. Additionally, sixteen states and the District of Columbia already prohibit income source discrimination. This measure requests the Governor to order executive agencies to adopt policies to prohibit income source discrimination.

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 S.R. No. 154 and recommends its adoption.

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

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair