STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1595-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2834

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2834, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LANDLORD-TENANT CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a process for a landlord to dispose of a deceased tenant's personal property and take possession of the dwelling unit following the death of the tenant.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS.

Your Committee finds that there is no guidance in existing law to address when a unit is occupied by a tenant who dies, specifically how the possession of a rented unit is ended and the disposition of a deceased tenant's belongings is conducted. This measure will provide an orderly means to end tenancies upon a tenant's death and dispose of the deceased tenant's personal property.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes for future consideration as this measure progresses through the legislative process that the Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS has requested an implementation date of November 1, 2024, to allow the Association sufficient time to amend its Standard Forms.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2834, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2834, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair