HB 1975

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1975
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
S.D. 1
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION
1.� The legislature finds that the state
rent supplement program for kupuna administered by the Hawaii public housing
authority has helped prevent some of the State's vulnerable elderly residents
from facing eviction and becoming homeless.�
In total, the program has provided about three hundred at-risk kupuna
with monthly rental assistance of less than $500 per month.� In 2024, the legislature funded the program
with $1,000,000 and in 2025, the legislature extended the program's sunset date
from 2026 to 2028. �The legislature
believes that the program should now be made permanent.
���� The
legislature further finds that the initial appropriation has been nearly
exhausted and that supplemental funding is necessary to sustain the program.
���� Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:
���� (1)� Make the state rent supplement program for
kupuna permanent; and
���� (2)� Appropriate funds for the program and for
positions to support the program.
���� SECTION
2.� Act 98, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023,
as amended by Act 282, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending
section 6 to read as follows:
���� "SECTION
6.� This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2023[[, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028]]."
���� SECTION
3.� There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$  or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of
two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist II
positions within the Hawaii public housing authority to support the state rent
supplement program for kupuna.
���� The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the
purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION
4.� There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$  or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the state rent
supplement program for kupuna; provided that the funds appropriated under this
section shall be in addition to the base budget of the Hawaii public housing
authority for the state rent supplement program.
���� The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the
purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION
5.� Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
���� SECTION
6.� This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2050.
Report Title:
HPHA;
State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna; Positions; Appropriations
Description:
Repeals
the sunset for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna.� Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public
Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna and for two positions
to support the program.� Effective 7/1/2050.� (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.