Hawaii Senate Bill SB1352

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/23
• Refer: 1/30/23
• Report Pass: 2/17/23
• Report Pass: 3/3/23
• Refer: 2/17/23
• Engrossed: 3/7/23
• Refer: 3/9/23
• Report Pass: 3/17/23
• Refer: 3/17/23
• Report Pass: 3/24/23
• Refer: 3/24/23

Caption

Relating To Housing.

Impact

One of the main implications of this Bill is its requirement that the construction of affordable housing developments funded or set aside by the state should comply with existing labor wage laws. This change is expected to prevent exploitation of workers in the housing sector while also promoting job stability, benefiting not just workers but potentially improving the quality of construction projects due to attracting skilled labor motivated by adequate wages.

Summary

SB1352, also known as the Affordable Housing Act, focuses on promoting labor standards for contractors involved in government housing projects. The Bill mandates that all contractors executing public work projects must pay their employees prevailing wages. It seeks to enhance the quality of housing construction while ensuring fair compensation for laborers and mechanics engaged in such projects.

Contention

However, the Bill is not without contention. Critics argue that imposing strict wage regulations might increase project costs, potentially leading to fewer affordable housing projects being pursued by contractors, particularly small firms. There are concerns regarding how these wage stipulations might affect the economic feasibility of affordable housing initiatives in Hawaii, which already struggles with high construction costs and housing shortages.