HB 1467 Summary

• Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide grants for retrofitting owner-occupied, single-family residential properties to improve disaster resilience and reduce insurance liabilities.

• Eligible applicants must have household income not exceeding 140% of area median income, own properties in good repair, obtain property evaluations from certified evaluators, and agree to department inspections; priority given to lower-income households.

• Properties must be retrofitted to meet Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety FORTIFIED standards (Roof, Silver, Gold, or equivalent) by certified contractors within six months of grant approval, with grant funds paid directly to contractors upon certification completion.

• Department may contract with third-party administrators and nonprofit organizations to manage the program, and shall adopt rules governing eligibility, applications, appeals, fund usage conditions, and fees; department must submit annual reports to legislature on program outcomes.

• Appropriates unspecified general revenue funds for fiscal year 2025-2026; effective July 1, 3000.