HILO, Hawai’i – The Hawaiʻi County Council moved forward on several key pieces of legislation during its meeting on May 7, 2025, passing first reading on four bills addressing affordable housing, zoning, and budget appropriations.
Bill 39 (Draft 2) proposes amendments to the Hawaiʻi County Code concerning the Affordable Rental Housing Real Property Tax Classification. This bill seeks to repeal the current definition of “affordable rental housing,” revise the definition of “affordable rental rate,” and modify the eligibility criteria for the affordable rental housing tax class. The bill passed its first reading with an 8-1 vote, Council Member Kagiwada voting no.
Bill 40 aims to amend the City of Hilo Zone Map by reclassifying approximately 12.043 acres in Panaʻewa from Agricultural – 10 Acres (A-10a) to Agricultural – 5 Acres (A-5a). The application, submitted by Hoʻoulu-Lahui, will allow for the subdivision of the property currently housing Kua O Ka La New Century Public Charter School, facilitating the school’s transition to fee-simple ownership. This bill received unanimous approval with a 9-0 vote.
Bill 41 proposes an amendment to the County’s Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2025. It seeks to decrease the appropriation to the Transfer to Housing Fund account by $451,221 and allocate the same amount to the HOME Program Income Repayment account. This budgetary adjustment passed unanimously with a 9-0 vote.
Bill 42 also seeks to amend the current fiscal year’s Operating Budget. This bill proposes to increase revenues in the Interest – Other Federal account by $660,000 and appropriate these funds to various housing assistance programs, including $600,000 for the Emergency Rent Assistance 2 COVID-19 account, $10,000 for the Hawaiʻi Island Landlord/Tenant Mediation account, and $50,000 for the 2021 Hawaiʻi Island Homeowner Assistance Program-Administration account. This bill also passed unanimously with a 9-0 vote.
In related news, the Council also gave final approval to a prior budget amendment. During their meeting on April 16, 2025, Ordinance 25-37 (Bill 35) passed its second and final reading with a unanimous 9-0 vote. This ordinance amends Ordinance No. 24-32, the Operating Budget for the County of Hawai’i for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Specific details of this earlier budget amendment were not immediately available in the provided information.
Bills 39, 40, 41, and 42 will now proceed to further readings and potential public hearings before the Council for final consideration.