STAND. COM. REP. NO. 8

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 25

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, 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 opposition to this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that alleviating the State's housing shortage requires creative solutions to ensure sufficient housing for all residents, despite the State's limited availability of land. Under existing law, the counties have the authority to determine zoning requirements, including residential capacity for housing built in a specific area of the county. However, in the event the county makes modifications, there must be safeguards to ensure no net loss of residential capacity to maximize the availability of housing. Therefore, this measure advances the State's housing priorities while providing the counties with necessary flexibility.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 25 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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STANLEY CHANG, Chair