STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3717

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 203

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 203 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE BARRIERS TO CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE STATE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit a report to the Legislature on the barriers to creating affordable housing in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committees find that the affordability of housing is influenced by various factors including demand, supply, mortgage rates, construction costs, income, population growth, and public housing policies. Your Committees recognize that housing affordability is a very important issue in the State. This measure will ensure that the proper agencies will pursue this issue and provide the Legislature with recommendations to address the barriers to creating affordable housing in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 203, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 203, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Housing,

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair