Bill > SB33

This bill renames the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Tourism, with the primary purpose of emphasizing the department's role in housing development. The bill makes comprehensive changes across multiple sections of Hawaii Revised Statutes to reflect this name change, including updating references in various statutory sections, such as those detailing department head salaries, commission reviews, and council compositions. Specifically, the bill requires the revisor of statutes to substitute the phrase "department of housing, economic development, and tourism" and "director of housing, economic development, and tourism" wherever the previous business-focused terminology appears in existing laws and future session laws. The changes aim to signal a greater institutional focus on housing policy and development within the state government. The bill does not affect any rights, duties, penalties, or proceedings that existed before its effective date and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, providing ample time for administrative preparation and implementation of the new departmental name and emphasis.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=33&year=2026