Bill Text: HI SB2762 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Rent Control.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-07 - Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 16 [SB2762 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2762-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2762
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO RENT CONTROL.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that establishing rent ceilings, or the maximum amount of rent a landlord is allowed to charge a tenant, for a limited duration and in certain counties, can help provide stability, affordability, and expedient relief for renters in crisis, such as renters that are experiencing a housing shortage as a result of a natural disaster.  The legislature further finds that, when a community is impacted by a natural disaster, local county councils are especially well-suited to determine whether, and at what rate, a rent ceiling should be established within its local jurisdiction.  The legislature therefore finds that, by allowing certain counties to establish a rent ceiling through a resolution, the State can both protect vulnerable communities and advance basic societal interests.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit a landlord from renting or leasing, or offering to rent or lease, a dwelling unit in a rent-controlled county at a rate that exceeds the rate established by resolution adopted by the appropriate county council, subject to certain conditions.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 521, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§521-    Rent controls; dwelling units in a rent-controlled county; rate establishment.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no landlord shall rent or lease, or offer to rent or lease, a dwelling unit in a rent-controlled county at a rate that exceeds the rate established by resolution adopted by the appropriate county council, unless:

     (1)  The landlord incurred additional operating expenses, which can be documented, because of an emergency, disaster, or severe weather in the rent-controlled county, and passes the additional operating expenses on to the tenant; or

     (2)  The rent increases are contained in a written instrument that was signed by the tenant before the effective date of the county council resolution that established the rate ceiling.

     (b)  Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

     (c)  For purposes of this section, "rent-controlled county" means any county having a population of more than one hundred twenty thousand but less than one hundred eighty thousand."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030, and shall be repealed on July 1, 2029.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Rental Units; Dwelling Units; Rent Control; Rental Rates; County Resolution

 

Description:

Prohibits a landlord from renting or leasing, or offering to rent or lease, a dwelling unit in a rent-controlled county at a rate that exceeds the rate established by resolution adopted by the appropriate county council, subject to certain exceptions.  Applies to any county having a population greater than 120,000 but less than 180,000.  Repeals 7/1/2029.  Takes effect 7/1/2030.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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