Bill > SB159

This bill amends Section 302A-1603 of Hawaii Revised Statutes to expand the types of housing developments that are exempt from school impact fees. The bill adds several new categories of exemptions, including housing developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, housing that provides 80% of units as affordable for 15 years, developments constructed under affordable housing programs, projects receiving federal or state subsidies, developments on government-owned land, housing exclusively for Hawaii residents who are owner-occupants with no other property, and developments using Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding. The existing exemptions remain in place, such as housing that permanently excludes school-aged children, transient accommodations, nonresidential developments, and developments with existing education contribution agreements. The purpose of these exemptions appears to be to reduce financial barriers to housing development, particularly for affordable and special-purpose housing projects, by waiving school impact fees that would otherwise be charged to developers. The bill will take effect immediately upon approval.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=159&year=2025