STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1294
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 1298
H.D. 3
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Housing and Labor and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1298, H.D. 3, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Require the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish a Government Employee Housing Revolving Fund Program and Government Employee Ninety‑Nine Year Leasehold Rent-to-Own Program;
(2) Establish the Government Employee Housing Revolving Fund; and
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL‑CIO; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; and Maui Chamber of Commerce.
Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.
Your Committees find that the State's chronic shortage of housing has led to increasing unaffordability of existing supply, causing higher levels of outmigration of existing and prospective state employees. Presently, the State's lack of affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities limit the ability for individuals and families to remain in the State to pursue careers with state and county agencies, which are also facing critical vacancy rates. Prioritizing housing options primarily for governor employees can increase recruitment and retention efforts and alleviate the high cost of housing for working families. Therefore, this measure offers homeownership opportunities to stabilize the cost of housing for government employees.
Your Committees have
amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) 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 Housing and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1298, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1298, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Labor and Technology,
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________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair |
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________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair |