The Senate committees on Public Safety, Military Affairs and Housing (joint) and the Senate Committee on Housing held a combined hearing on April 10, 2025, and took final action on two concurrent resolutions and two gubernatorial nominations affecting state housing policy.

The most consequential votes: the committees passed HCR 66, a request that the State Building Code Council update the state building code to authorize point-access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories; they also passed HCR 78, declaring the intent that projects whose units qualified for housing credits under Act 31 remain eligible for credits after that act’s repeal. The committees advised and consented to the nominations of Lisa Ann Darcy to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority board and Grant Chung to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation board.

Why it matters: HCR 66 would ask the State Building Code Council to change construction-authority language that could affect midrise residential development statewide. HCR 78 aims to protect the continuity of housing-credit eligibility for projects that relied on Act 31. The two confirmations place experienced private- and nonprofit-sector housing figures on state boards that oversee funding, development and management of public and affordable housing.

Votes and formal actions

- HCR 66 — Pass unamended. Motion recorded as the chair’s recommendation to pass HCR 66 unamended; committee recommendation adopted in joint session and later passed by the Housing Committee. Named recorded votes in the joint session include Chair LaFonte (yes) and Senator Fukunaga (yes); the committee later recorded the chair voting aye and noted “with all others voting aye” in the Housing-only disposition. (Transcript evidence: introduction of HCR 66 at the joint hearing and the later Housing Committee vote.)

- HCR 78 — Pass unamended. Chair’s recommendation to pass HCR 78 unamended; the committee recorded votes of Chair (aye), Vice Chair (aye), Senator Aquino (aye), Senator Kanuha (aye) and Senator Fevella (aye); recommendation adopted. (Transcript evidence: HCR 78 introduction and vote during the Housing-only agenda.)

- GM 592 (Lisa Ann Darcy) — Advise and consent. The committee moved to advise and consent to Darcy’s nomination to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority board; the chair recorded an aye vote and the recommendation was adopted. Darcy spoke briefly and answered questions during her confirmation hearing. (Transcript evidence: nominee statement and final disposition.)

- GM 736 (Grant Chung) — Advise and consent. The committee moved to advise and consent to Chung’s nomination to the HHFDC board; the chair recorded an aye vote and the recommendation was adopted. Chung made brief remarks and answered questions about financing and permitting delays. (Transcript evidence: nominee statement and final disposition.)

What the record shows (procedural detail)

- HCR 66 was introduced for decision making at the joint PSM + Housing slot; a short roster of registered testifiers (Perry Eris Smith; Ted Kafales; Frank Schultz; OPSD late testimony) was announced but their oral testimony excerpts are not recorded in the supplied transcript. The chair’s recommendation to pass unamended was adopted in the joint session and later confirmed in the Housing-only meeting.

- HCR 78 was presented during the Housing-only agenda; the chair recommended passage unamended and the committee adopted the recommendation.

- Both gubernatorial messages (GM 592 and GM 736) were heard in the Housing-only agenda with nominees present. Committees asked nominees about redevelopment and relocation concerns (HPHA nominee Darcy) and about pipeline/permitting and lending-reform ideas (HHFDC nominee Chung). Both nominees received advise-and-consent recommendations from the committee.

Provenance (selected transcript excerpts)

- HCR 66 introduction (topicintro): "If time permits, decision making will occur after we hear from all of those offering testimony. We only have 1 item on our joint agenda. That's house concurrent resolution 66 requesting the state building code council to adopt, amend, or update the state building code to authorize point access block construction for residential buildings up to 6 stories in the state." (Transcript block starting at 51.524998)

- HCR 66 joint decision finish (topfinish): "So with that being said, the chair is having conferred recommendation here on HCR 66 is to pass as is. Any further discussion? If not, acting vice chair votes for the vote. Chair votes aye." (Transcript block starting at 132.675)

- HCR 78 introduction (topicintro): "First we begin with HCR 78 declaring the intent that projects with housing units that qualify for housing credits under Act 31 are still eligible to receive housing credits after the repeal of that act." (Transcript block starting at 216.655)

- HCR 78 final vote (topfinish): "For HCR 78, chair's recommendation is to pass unamended, chair votes aye, vice chair votes aye. Senator Aquino? Aye. Senator Kanuha? Aye. Senator Fevella? Aye. Chair recommendation is adopted." (Transcript block starting at 2659.345)

- GM 592 nominee statement (topicintro): "Good afternoon, Chair. Good afternoon, Vice Chair. I'm a little under the weather. So, I appreciate, your time today, and being here and considering my nomination. My name is Lisa Darcy." (Transcript block starting at 342.775)

- GM 592 final disposition (topfinish): "GM 5 92 chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Chair votes aye. Members GM 592 Chair's recommendation is passed with advise and consent... recommendation is adopted." (Transcript block starting at 2683.115)

- GM 736 nominee statement (topicintro): "Good afternoon, mister chair, vice chair, and members of the committee. I am Grant Chan and, appreciate your time and consideration, in this appointment." (Transcript block starting at 1880.12)

- GM 736 final disposition (topfinish): "Recommendation for GM 736 advising consent. Chair votes aye. With all others voting aye. Recommendations adopted." (Transcript block starting at 2743.135)

Speakers (named in the hearing record and relevant to these actions): [{"name":"LaFonte","role_title":"Chair","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Wakai","role_title":"Vice Chair (excused)","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Hashimoto","role_title":"Vice Chair (Housing Committee)","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Aquino","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Kanuha","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Fevella","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Fukunaga","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Perry Eris Smith","role_title":"Testifier","affiliation_type":"citizen"},{"name":"Ted Kafales","role_title":"Testifier","affiliation_type":"citizen"},{"name":"Frank Schultz","role_title":"Testifier","affiliation_type":"citizen"},{"name":"OPSD","role_title":"Agency (submitted late testimony)","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Lisa Ann Darcy","role_title":"Nominee, HPHA board","affiliation_type":"citizen"},{"name":"Grant Chung","role_title":"Nominee, HHFDC board","affiliation_type":"citizen"}]

Authorities referenced: [{"type":"resolution","name":"HCR 66: Requesting the State Building Code Council to adopt, amend, or update the state building code to authorize point access block construction for residential buildings up to 6 stories","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-2025-04-10"]},{"type":"resolution","name":"HCR 78: Declaring the intent that projects with housing units that qualified for housing credits under Act 31 remain eligible after repeal","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-2025-04-10"]},{"type":"other","name":"GM 592: Nomination of Lisa Ann Darcy, Hawaii Public Housing Authority board","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-2025-04-10"]},{"type":"other","name":"GM 736: Nomination of Grant Chung, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation board","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-2025-04-10"]}],