Yesterday, Governor Josh Green signed the Tenth Emergency Proclamation Relating to Wildfires (EP), The proclamation contains amendments from previous versions aimed at increasing the availability of affordable housing for Maui residents, especially those displaced due to the August 8, 2023 wildfires.
Notable changes include:
- Removes price freezes for all commodities except rentals of residential dwellings.
- To ensure continued financial viability of affordable housing projects on Maui, provides an exception from the price freeze on rentals of residential dwellings for affordable housing projects subject to regulatory agreements relating to rent increases (e.g., affordable housing projects may increase rents in line with their regulatory agreements).
- Changes the suspension of chapter 6E to allow for construction of temporary housing for displaced victims with the approval of the State Historic Preservation Division.
- Suspends section 467-7, HRS, so that operators of state-owned temporary lodging for displaced victims and those assisting with wildfire recovery do not require a real estate license.
- Suspends sections 37-77 and 662-11, HRS, to allow the Attorney General to settle claims through the One ʻOhana Fund without legislative approval.
In a press release Governor Green said, “The devastating loss of thousands of homes in the fires exacerbated Maui’s already untenable housing shortage. We are making progress toward housing our displaced families and individuals on Maui and this new EP will help get them into long-term, stable homes for the first time since August.”
AP Photo
