STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2130

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2646

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2646 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the loan limit for direct loans provided by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from fifty percent to seventy-five percent of the maximum single residence loan amount allowed in Hawaii by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Federal Housing Administration, as currently outlined in Section 215 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hoʻomana Pono, LLC; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands provides direct loans for the repair, maintenance, purchase, and erection of a dwelling. However, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, stipulates that these loans cannot exceed fifty percent of the maximum single residence loan amount allowed in Hawaii by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Federal Housing Administration. This measure will enable the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to better serve beneficiaries seeking to purchase or make improvements to their home by increasing the loan limit from fifty percent to seventy-five percent of the maximum single residence loan amount allowed in Hawaii by the Federal Housing Administration.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2646 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair