SB2227Introduced in the Senate
Relating To Rental Assistance.
Introduced by Stanley Chang, District 9
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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)
Where it stands
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
February 20, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
SenateStage: Senate Housing: Passed, With Amendments · February 17, 2026
5
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
5 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Troy Hashimoto | 5 | Yes |
| Stanley Chang | 9 | Yes |
| Karl Rhoads | 13 | Yes |
| Brandon Elefante | 16 | Yes |
| Kurt Fevella | 20 | Yes |
Bill history
Pending Introduction.
Introduced and passed First Reading.
Referred to HOU/WLA, WAM.
The committee(s) on HOU/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-17-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
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.
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.
Reported from HOU/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2564) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
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