STAND. COM. REP. NO. 547

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1096

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1096, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TENANT SELECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the statutorily established tenant selection preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans in the State Low-Income Housing Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committee finds that because tenant selection preferences for the State Low-income Housing Program are currently codified in statute, it can be difficult for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to adjust policies in response to evolving housing needs. Your Committee further finds that this measure does not eliminate housing assistance for veterans or their spouses but rather modernizes how preferences are managed, ensuring greater flexibility and responsiveness in addressing housing needs statewide.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1096, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair