Hawaii HR7: Urging the Counties to Act on Any Building Permit Application for Modification of a Residence That is Prescribed by a Licensed Health Care Provider and Found by the County to Be Essential to the Safety or Health of an Older Adult or Person with a Disability Within Forty-five Days of Receipt of a Complete Application.

What the bill says

From the introduced text:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 STATE OF HAWAII U a HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTIES TO ACT ON ANY BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF A RESIDENCE THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FOUND BY THE COUNTY TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY OR HEALTH OF AN OLDER ADULT OR PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF RECEIPT OF A COMPLETE APPLICATION. WHEREAS, throughout the State, older adults, those aged sixty-two years of age or older, are currently facing monthslong delays in receiving approval for building permit applications for modifications to residences that are needed for safety and independent living; and WHEREAS, such modifications often include the installation of ramps, grab bars, widened doorways, and other features that enable aging in place and reduce reliance on institutional care; and WHEREAS, prolonged delays in permit approvals significantly increase the risk of fall-related injuries, fatalities, and avoidable hospitalizations among older adults, placing additional strain on emergency medical services and health care systems; and WHEREAS, falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among seniors, with more than two hundred thirteen preventable, fall-related deaths estimated in 2023; and WHEREAS, timely approval of building permits for safety--related home modifications is critical to advancing public health goals, reducing health care costs, and supporting the State's commitment to enabling older …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Cory Chun (D, 35) · primary sponsor
• Terez Amato (D, 11)
• Della Belatti (D, 26)
• Luke Evslin (D, 16)
• Andrew Garrett (D, 22)
• Tina Grandinetti (D, 20)
• Hartsfield, Daisy (D, 36)
• Mark Hashem (D, 19)
• Linda Ichiyama (D, 31)
• Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
• Kim Iwamoto (D, 25)
• Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6)

Latest actions

1. April 9, 2026: Resolution adopted in final form.
2. April 9, 2026: Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
3. April 9, 2026: Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1905-26), recommending adoption.
4. April 8, 2026: The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Gedeon.
5. April 2, 2026: Resolution scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 04-08-26 9:30AM in conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
6. April 2, 2026: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on ECD with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
7. April 2, 2026: Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1728-26), recommending referral to ECD.
8. April 1, 2026: The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Amato, Hartsfield.
9. March 30, 2026: Resolution scheduled to be heard by HSH on Wednesday, 04-01-26 10:00AM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
10. March 10, 2026: Referred to HSH, ECD, referral sheet 15

Votes

• Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1) (April 9, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
• ECD: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 8, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on ECD with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (April 2, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
• HSH: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 1, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HR7?

HR7 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Urging the Counties to Act on Any Building Permit Application for Modification of a Residence That is Prescribed by a Licensed Health Care Provider and Found by the County to Be Essential to the Safety or Health of an Older Adult or Person with a Disability Within Forty-five Days of Receipt of a Complete Application.

What is the status of HR7?

Passed both chambers as of April 9, 2026. Latest action: Resolution adopted in final form. (April 9, 2026).

Who sponsored HR7?

Cory Chun (D, 35), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HR7?

On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HR&billnumber=7&year=2026