STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1186

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 703

H.D. 1

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 Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 703, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to extends the sunset date for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna to June 30, 2028.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Office of Housing and Community Development of the County of Hawaiʻi, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Institute for Human Services, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, and four individuals.

Your Committees find that the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna offers crucial support for kupuna on fixed incomes to secure safe and affordable housing. However, the existing program will sunset in 2026, creating financial uncertainty for kupuna who rely on this program. Therefore, this measure ensures continuity of the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna to ensure residents can maintain affordable housing while having the ability to live independently.

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 Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 703, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 703, H.D. 1, 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 Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair