STAND. COM. REP. NO. 559

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1610

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 Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1610 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OHANA ZONES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Ohana Zones Program as a permanent program within the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions;

(2) Exempt Ohana Zones projects from general excise taxes;

(3) Require annual reports to the Legislature; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Kauaʻi County Housing Agency; and CARES, Community Advocacy Research Education Services.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Taxation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that the development of permanent housing takes time, and in the meantime, people experiencing homelessness will continue to live unsheltered and without adequate and meaningful access to social services. Your Committees further find that the Ohana Zones Pilot Program established by Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, has been effective at serving its intended purpose of providing housing and critical services to the State's homeless population. Noting the success of the Program to date, your Committees believe that the Program should be made permanent. This measure codifies the Ohana Zones Program to ensure continued support to the homeless population of the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to clarify that "ohana zone" includes a kauhale;

(2) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1610, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1610, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing,

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair