Bill Text: HI SR157 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Urging The Department Of The Attorney General To Investigate And Enforce Applicable Laws Against Landlords Who Are Ending Rental Agreements To House Femaeligible Households Through The Direct Lease Program Or The Department Of Human Services Rental Assistance Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-04-04 - Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). [SR157 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SR157-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
157 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE RESOLUTION
URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCE APPLICABLE LAWS AGAINST LANDLORDS WHO ARE ENDING RENTAL AGREEMENTS TO HOUSE FEMA‑ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH THE DIRECT LEASE PROGRAM OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, nearly three thousand households were displaced by the August 2023 Maui wildfires; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature is examining potential tools for rent control in Maui County; and
WHEREAS, Maui is experiencing a housing crisis due to the lack of available units; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State are utilizing short-term housing through the Direct Lease Program, Rental Assistance Program, and non-congregate shelters to house both FEMA-eligible and ineligible households; and
WHEREAS, FEMA's Direct Lease Program has inflated the rental market by paying three hundred sixty-six percent above-market rates to landlords who will house FEMA-eligible households; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services Rental Assistance Program (RAP) pays above-market rates to house FEMA-ineligible households; and
WHEREAS, incidents have been reported on Maui where homeowners are not renewing lease agreements with existing tenants, displacing them to make room for FEMA-eligible households through the Direct Lease Program and the ineligible households supported through RAP; and
WHEREAS, these incidents have raised concerns about fairness, housing stability, and the impact on tenants who are being displaced; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's emergency proclamation established a moratorium on evictions in Lahaina; and
WHEREAS, the Department of the Attorney General has a duty to investigate such incidents and ensure compliance with relevant regulations; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the Department of the Attorney General is urged to investigate and enforce applicable laws against landlords who are ending rental agreements to house FEMA-eligible households through the Direct Lease Program or the Department of Human Services Rental Assistance Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General.
Department of the Attorney General; Housing; Rental Housing; Landlords
