HB 673 Summary

• Allows counties to reclassify lands between 15 and 100 acres in rural, urban, and agricultural districts without Land Use Commission approval, provided at least 50% of housing units are affordable to persons and families earning at or below 140% of area median income.

• Exempts affordable housing projects on 15-100 acre parcels from the standard Land Use Commission review process that applies to larger land reclassifications and conservation district changes.

• Enables larger-scale affordable housing development by allowing counties to independently approve land use changes, making infrastructure projects economically feasible by spreading costs across bigger developments.

• Addresses Hawaii's housing shortage by streamlining the approval process for affordable housing developments while maintaining protections for conservation districts and important agricultural lands.