STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1397

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1357

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1357, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make permanent the issuance of county affordable housing credits to the department of Hawaiian home lands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Dowling Company, Inc.

Your Committee finds that there is a severe lack of affordable housing available for residents, particularly for native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Affordable housing credits have provided the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands greater opportunities to gain resources to develop homesteads for native Hawaiian beneficiaries. However, your Committee notes that despite the importance and success of the affordable housing credit program, it is set to expire on July 1, 2024. This measure ensures that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands can continue to provide affordable housing to native Hawaiian beneficiaries and reduce the number of beneficiaries on the homestead waitlist.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1357, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1357, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

TROY N. HASHIMOTO, Chair