SB 2205 Summary

• Establishes "important housing lands" as public lands within one mile of rail mass transit stations designated to promote below-market-rate housing development for eligible buyer-occupants

• Defines "eligible buyer" as a Hawaii resident who is an owner-occupant of a dwelling unit on important housing lands and owns no other real property

• Creates a three-phase process: counties identify and map potential important housing lands; the land use commission reviews and formally designates them; special approval requirements apply to any reclassification or rezoning of designated lands

• Requires a two-thirds vote by the land use commission or relevant county authority for any boundary amendment or zoning change involving important housing lands

• Appropriates funds to counties for the identification and mapping process, with counties required to submit recommendations to the land use commission within five years of receiving state funds

• Effective date is July 1, 2050