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Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 2227: RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 2227 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE. Primary sponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Brandon Elefante (Democratic), Kurt Fevella (Republican), Troy Hashimoto (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 20, 2026): Reported from HOU/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2564) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to award monthly rent supplement payments on behalf of qualified tenants under the State Rent Supplement Program prioritizing certain tenants, including kupuna. Authorizes the HPHA to enter into memoranda of agreement for rental supplement payments with the counties or specialized nonprofit organizations. Amends provisions relating to the State Rent Supplement Program. Establishes the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess a transaction tax for each applicable recording in the Office of the Assistant Registrar of the Land Court or the Bureau of Conveyances to be deposited into the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Repeals the existing separate State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. Establishes four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist II positions and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist IV position within the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5 · Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9
Brandon ElefantePrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate16
Kurt FevellaPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate20
Troy HashimotoPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate5
Joy San BuenaventuraCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate2
Tim RichardsCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate4

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Reported from HOU/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2564) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
  2. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
  3. The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
  4. The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
  5. The committee(s) on HOU/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-17-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
  6. Referred to HOU/WLA, WAM.
  7. Introduced and passed First Reading.
  8. Pending Introduction.

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source