Bill > SR103

This resolution requests the Hawaii Judiciary to establish a three-year working group to comprehensively research and address landlord-tenant issues, with the primary goals of increasing rental housing availability and improving interactions between property owners and tenants. The working group would be composed of key stakeholders including the Chief Justice (as chairperson), legislative leaders, the Attorney General, consumer protection representatives, legal experts, property owners, professional property managers, and tenant advocacy organizations. The group's specific research objectives include identifying unused rental housing stock, evaluating challenges faced by landlords and tenants, exploring best practices and potential regulatory improvements, determining problem areas that impact property managers and owners, and developing potential solutions. The resolution requires an initial meeting by July 1, 2025, and mandates that the working group submit an initial report to the Legislature at least twenty days before the 2026 Regular Session. This effort is particularly significant given that 38.2 percent of Hawaii residents are renters and the state is experiencing a housing shortage, with the ultimate aim of creating more clarity in landlord-tenant laws and reducing legal disputes.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SR&billnumber=103&year=2025