Hawaiʻi continues to face one of the most severe housing shortages in the nation. What gives me hope is learning about a few housing-related bills introduced by my good friend, state Rep. Luke Evslin. These bills which recently crossed over from the House to the Senate include efforts to increase housing supply, reduce regulatory barriers, fund infrastructure, and ensure that more homes remain available for local residents.
HB2049 HD2 “Relating to the Conveyance Tax and Housing Infrastructure” restructures Hawaiʻi’s conveyance tax into a marginal rate system for residential property transactions. Conveyance taxes would be reduced for median-priced homes and multifamily housing while higher-value transactions would see higher tax rates.
The bill would create predictable, recurring funding for housing priorities by dedicating $60 million annually to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to help address our Native Hawaiian homestead waitlist and $40 million annually for housing infrastructure statewide. It would also help ensure long-term funding for both homestead development and the public infrastructure needed to support new housing.
HB1725 HD1 “Relating to Building Codes” seeks to streamline construction regulations and reduce costly delays. The bill locks in the applicable building code at the time a building permit is issued, preventing mid-project changes that can require expensive redesigns.
It also establishes a six-year statewide building code update cycle and allows the more affordable International Residential Code to be used for smaller multifamily housing projects such as triplexes and fourplexes. These changes are intended to reduce uncertainty and lower development costs for builders pursuing middle-density housing.
HB1739 HD1 “Relating to Transit-Oriented Development” encourages counties to allow higher housing densities near major transit hubs such as rail stations and key bus corridors. The policy is designed to support more walkable, transit-friendly communities while reducing reliance on cars and lowering infrastructure costs. More homes near transit hubs can help accommodate population growth while making better use of existing transportation investments.
HB2476 HD2 “Housing Infrastructure Growth Bonds” proposes a constitutional amendment that would authorize counties to issue bonds specifically for housing-related infrastructure. These bonds could help finance essential improvements such as roads, water systems, and wastewater facilities needed to support new housing developments. By providing counties with additional financing tools, the bill aims to remove a major obstacle to housing construction.
Finally, HB1740 HD1 “Relating to Resident-Only Housing Programs” promotes the creation of deed-restricted housing reserved for Hawaiʻi residents by expanding regulatory incentives for projects that include perpetual resident-only deed restrictions and streamlines ownership and buyer qualification processes that can slow housing transactions. The goal is to encourage the development of homes that remain permanently available to local residents and workforce families rather than being purchased by outside investors.
Please join me in pushing for the passage of these bills which represent a brave, new, multi-faceted approach to our housing challenges. Approaches that could accelerate housing production and help ensure housing for generations to come, as well as establish a significant regular annual investment to our Native Hawaiian homesteads!
