Bill > HB374

This bill modifies the criteria used by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) when providing housing or housing assistance. The bill expands the existing preference factors to include eight specific considerations: household income and dependents, applicant's age, physical disabilities, current housing quality, displacement by government action, proximity to employment, employment as a state or county worker, and other pertinent factors. The bill also introduces new procedural requirements for the corporation, including determining a clear order of preferences, ranking applicants, selecting applicants based on application date within similarly ranked groups, and validating an applicant's preference status before they occupy an affordable housing unit. Additionally, the bill allows households with incomes up to 20% higher than the maximum sales price income to qualify for unit purchases, and permits the corporation to establish additional eligibility criteria through administrative rules. The bill aims to create a more comprehensive and transparent process for allocating affordable housing, taking into account a broader range of applicant circumstances and needs.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=374&year=2026