Bill > HB635

This bill aims to provide additional legal protections for residential tenants by allowing them to sue landlords who violate the Hawaii Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. Specifically, the bill creates a new provision that enables tenants who successfully sue a landlord for a code violation to be awarded monetary damages of either $1,000 or three times their actual sustained damages (whichever is greater), plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. The legislative findings acknowledge that tenants can be vulnerable to unfair treatment and may struggle to protect their rights due to the potential expense of legal action. The bill is designed to give tenants a stronger legal recourse when landlords violate their rights under the state's residential rental laws. The new provisions will apply only to future cases, and the act will take effect immediately upon approval, meaning tenants can begin utilizing these enhanced legal protections as soon as the bill is signed into law.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=635&year=2026