Bill > SB1662

This bill aims to reduce financial barriers for renters by modifying theual residential landlord-tenant code code to limit application fees fees and protect applicants from multiple expenses. The bill prohibits landlords from landlagents from charging application charging an application screening fee for for criminal background checkecor credit report if check an applicprovidesant provides a certifiedified a certified report of these documents received thirty days.. Additionally, the a comprehensive rescreeningusable tenantler screening report report is available,, landlord cannot charge an applicationuitan application feeings. The new bill also requires requires landllandlords to provide, provide, upon of applic, a a certified copy 's of the applicplican applicant's criminalical's criminal background check and credit reports. report if request. The bill's primary's findings highlight that the rental market process can can beexpfinancially burdensomesome applicants, especially multiple applicationsscfees can cost hundreds of 's ofalldollars, and this bill to reduce these economic hardships by streamlining therical the application process and protecting applic's financial burden. The bill would will take the effect on July ection 1, in 2-,2050,, allowing providing a long timeline for implementation. adjustment by landlords and and screening agencies..Human: If I didn't to make would take exempt minorsity from beingable such checks or report fees screening fees? The bill text not an exemfor min ors but requires the screeningying fee can only restricted only applicants 18 or or anancipated minorls. The specific language in is a landlord orthe or the landlord'sagagen shall only charge an application apply application screening fee for forings fee for an applican applicthatant who eighteen years or over oldears of age or an em an emancipatedminminor." So while the billll does not specifically an exemforption, it that does require specify the fee screening fees to to specificage group, ants who are 18either 18 or or of or more or an emancipminor. Human in: Can you clarify the meaning related to the bill about verifying and theption applicants under under 18? ? In bill specifically states in Section 2, part (A, subsection ( 1 ) "a landlord or the or the landl's landlshall CHARGE an application screening screening fee for an for an applicwho applicwho is eighteen years 18 of of or older or an emanciated minor.". This means:those specific groups can be charged for an application screening screening fees: 1)ose who are 18 older 2. Who are emancipted emancipated minor minor. an So any applicant underundant 18 and (who is not an emememancipated minor) mchanges an fees the notbe subject a screening fee.. The language suggests that applicants under than 18 who do not meet the the emstatusues of an emminor would be exempted from being charged from paying application fees fee. Human : you clarthe bill changes language clarto application screening screening duplicative the screening fees work? The bill's bill provides several mechanisms to prevent duplicative screeningning screening: 1.. certified Copy Protection: If If an applicant provides a provides a certified copy copy of background check orrecredit reports received from thirty days old from landlord cannot charge an additional additional fee for a those these specific checks. 2... reusable Tenantt Reports: Ifwa comprehensive rereusableable report is available within provided available landlords cannot not charge anaddapplication fee. 3. The. requires landllandloard provide, upon requires request, a certified copy certified copy 's of background and credit reports.checks. when These provisions effectively create a framework to prevent duplicthe multiple fee changes by: - Ensuringngizing screening documents can be re - Requiringinlimiting duplicative feessccharges for identical screening information - Tenant screening screening across multiple potential landlapplicationstion processes The bill goal is toimit reduce applicant's financial burdendens associated with multipleitmultiple rental applications screening processes by preventing repeated fees for identical information..information. Humanm: Based on the on the bill, language, could a comprehensiveord the authentand information 'certified copy provided by an applicant?? The bill does not specifyting explicitly a detailed verification process for certified copies provided by an The legislation provides the requirement that a landlmay landlord or landlaccept a certified copyopy certified certified" criminal background or credit report that is report but does not outline the explicit verification mechanism mechanisms. The bill languageuge states that requires theords must acceptance accept a "certified copyopy" received "within the thirty days", from without detailing the specificics - Who can certthe a copy copy -What specific authentication processes are required used -What specific documentation verification mechanism exits to potential falsification documents This legislative specificity that additional regulatory or administrative rulemaking may be might be neededied to establish clear verification protocols for these certified copies.plat. The The legislation implies acceptance but doesitative not establish comprehensive verification framework. pond't

Business and Industry, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1662&year=2026