STAND. COM. REP. NO. 994

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 25

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 25 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize a county to reduce the number of housing units that may be built within any portion of the county only if the county increases the number of housing units that may be built elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the State is facing an acute housing shortage. Currently, the counties maintain the power to change zoning ordinances that can potentially reduce the amount of housing in a certain zone. By prohibiting the counties from decreasing the overall potential housing supply, this measure will align the State's stated dedication to easing the housing supply shortage and stimulating housing production throughout the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of April 23, 2057, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 25, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 25, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair