HB 817 Summary

• Establishes a rent reporting for credit pilot program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation allowing tenant participants to have rent payments reported to consumer reporting agencies to build credit.

• Requires the corporation to contract with a third party by October 1, 2023 to administer the program, recruiting no more than ten landlords and at least one hundred tenants, with priority given to underserved populations and those earning no more than 60% of area median income.

• Mandates participant tenants complete a financial education course before rent payment reporting can begin, and prohibits landlords from charging fees for participation; landlords must participate for at least 14 months through April 1, 2026.

• Requires the corporation to submit a comprehensive report to the governor and legislature at least 20 days before the 2028 regular session covering participant numbers, demographics, costs, challenges, credit impact assessment, and recommendations.

• Appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025; program sunsets on June 30, 2027.