Policy Progress
Below is a complete list of passed legislation introduced by Luke.
Hawai’i State Legislature
SB 3202 CD1 (Evslin companion bill)
Passed, May 1, 2024
- Legalizes two ADUs per residential lot (with significant flexibility for the counties to determine implementation), prohibits covenants from restricting against ADUs, reduces impact fees for small homes, eliminates impact fees for homes that convert to multifamily without increasing the size of the house, and streamlines residential subdivisions within the urban state land use district.
HB 2090 CD1
Passed, May 1, 2024
- Requires the counties to allow multifamily residential development in all commercially zoned areas and significantly reduces barriers for the repurposing of existing commercial buildings into residential homes.
HB 1633 CD1
Passed, May 1, 2024
- Repeals the leasing restriction on units built by owner-builders who obtain an owner-builder exemption.
HR 121 HD1
Passed, March 28, 2024
- Recognizing that low density development patterns often cost more to mantain and service than they contribute in property taxes, the resolution urges the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop a methodology that determines whether a development will contribute to the long-term fiscal sustainability of the State and respective county and to develop a visual mapping analysis of current development patterns showing estimated value per acre to help compare the productivity of various development patterns throughout Hawai’i.
Kaua’i County Council
Bill No. 2891
Passed, February 22, 2023
- Provides a tax credit for long-term rental or owner occupied homes that were classified as “residential investor” but failed to file the proper forms.
Bill No. 2888
Passed, November 16, 2022
- Allocates 2% of Real Property Tax Revenue to affordable housing construction.
Bill No. 2872
Passed, 2022
- Creates three property tax tiers for the Residential Investor (vacant homes) and Vacation Rental property tax class. The value of homes less than $1M are in tier 1, between $1M and $3M in tier 2, and over $3M in tier 3. The intent is to shift the cost of government services onto higher end homes more capable of paying and to incentivize these homes to convert to long-term rentals or owner-occupancy.
Budgetary motion
Failed, May 13th, 2022
- Moved to increase Vacation Rental property tax rate by $1, with $100K allocated towards an EV-charging infrastructure rebate program and the remaining allocated $4.5M towards affordable housing.
For more info, click here to view TGI article.
Bill No. 2842
Passed, March 9th, 2022
- As part of our obligation to the Kaua’i Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan, the bill prohibits feeding cats in county parks and prohibits the abandonment of cats islandwide.
For more info, click here for an overview of the bill and click here to view the TGI article.
Bill No. 2824
Passed, March 9th, 2022
- Prohibits covenants and other agreements that run with the land from prohibiting against ARUs, ADUs, guest houses, and long-term rentals. As a way to address our housing and homelessness crisis, this is to ensure that homeowners can build additional housing on their property and long-term rent portions of their home as long as those uses are within the confines of the County zoning code.
For more info, click here to view TGI article.
Bill No. 2838
Passed, December 1st, 2021
-Prohibits glamping and other types of commercial developed campgrounds from agricultural and open zoned land passed. The intent is to ensure that we do not lose our agricultural and open zoned lands to tourist accommodations.
For more info, click here to view the TGI article.
Bill No. 2837
Passed, November 17th, 2021
- Establishes a program within the Kaua’i County Housing Agency to cover 100% of the cost of septic conversion for selected applicants.
For more info, click here for an overview of the program and click here to view the TGI article.
Resolution No. 2021-20
Passed, April 21st, 2021
- Signs Kaua’i onto the Digital Equity Declaration and encourages broadband connectivity to underserved areas while supporting policy to advance digital connectivity and equity.
Resolution No. 2021-11
Passed, February 24th, 2021
- Urges in-person education and youth sports for Kaua’i schools as long as the metrics for Kaua’i SARS-CoV-2 transmission remain within the CDC and DOH metrics for safe openings.
Resolution No. 2020-57
Passed, November 25th, 2020
- Urges the Governor to re-impose a mandatory quarantine on arriving visitors until they can receive a second SARS-CoV-2 test after a scientifically based period of time.
For more info, click here to view TGI article.
Bill No. 2795
Signed into law, September 10th, 2020
- Because property taxes for homes within a commercial building are taxed at the higher Commercial property tax rate rather than the Homestead or Residential rates, the bill creates two new property tax exemptions to incentivize the conversion of commercial units into housing units, with a more significant exemption for affordable units.
Bill No. 2805
Signed into law, December 16th, 2020
- Authorizes Department of Parks and Recreation to charge non-residents to park in county beach parks and directs them to implement a study into the degree of harm resulting from overcrowding of our beach parks.
Bill No. 2767
Failed
- Ensures all TVR and Resort property are taxed at their respective rates.
For more info click here for an editorial in TGI and click here for a Powerpoint overview of the bill
Resolution Regarding the Facilities Reserve Charge
Passed, December 4th, 2019
- Urges the Board of Water Supply to reduce the Facilities Reserve charge for multi-family units, smaller homes, and additional rental units certified as affordable by the Housing Agency.
- *update Board of Water supply voted to reduce the FRC to $9,800 for ARUs and Guest Houses on December 19th, 2019
Bill No. 2761
Signed into law, December 23rd, 2019
- Defines a tiny house and allows their construction in all zoning districts.
For more info…
Bill No. 2755
Signed into law, April 23rd, 2020
- Removes minimum lot sizes for multifamily homes.
For more info…
Bill No. 2740
Signed into law, November 12th, 2019
- Waives Zoning Permit Filing Fee and Processing Fee and sets up an ARU subsidy account within the current Housing Development Fund to subsidize the Facilities Reserve Charge (which can go as high as $14,150) for affordable ARUs.
For more info on all of the ARU bills…
Bill No. 2741
Signed into law, November 12th, 2019
- Waives environmental impact assessment fee for affordable ARUs.
Bill No. 2742
Signed into law, November 12th, 2019
- Extends the Housing Development Fund to allow it to be used for subsidizing the FRC for affordable ARUs.
Bill No. 2743
Signed into law, November 12th, 2019
- Waives the Wastewater Treatment Capacity Fee ($3900) for ARUs.
Bill No. 2744
Signed into law, November 12th, 2019
- Waives all building permit fees (which includes plumbing and electrical permits) for affordable ARUs.
Bill No. 2745
Signed into law, December 23rd, 2019
- Allows ARUs to be built within SPA-D (Rice St).
For more info…
Bill No. 2756
Signed into law, September 11th, 2019
- Provides access to existing beneficial property tax rates and exemptions to families with property with no living owners on title.
For more info…
Bill No. 2751
Signed into law, July 8th, 2019
- Simplifying the long-term affordable rental program by removing the annual affidavit requirement for multi-year leases and allowing the homeowner to sign an affidavit that lasts the same duration as the lease.
For more info…
Bank of America Settlement Resolution
Passed, April 10th, 2019
- Supporting the Governor’s efforts in urging the Bank of America to return to Hawai’i to meet with Na Po’e Kokua and the Hawai’i Fair Lending Coalition to reach a settlement agreement relating to a $150,000,000 loan commitment for native Hawaiians on Hawaiian Home Lands.
For more info…
About Luke
Luke is dedicated to a life of public service.
Born on Kauaʻi in 1984, he is the son of Dr. Lee and Micki Evslin. Luke grew up in Kapaʻa with his three older siblings Tanya, Noah, and Nathaniel. While in his final year at college he co-founded Kamanu Composites, the Oʻahu based outrigger canoe manufacturing company, with two of his closest friends from Kauaʻi High School.
Read the latest from my campaign blog...
Endorsements
Issues & Opportunities
Housing
Housing costs are high because the supply isn’t meeting demand. To bring the cost of housing down, we need to build more homes and encourage more housing options, like ʻohana houses, apartments, and duplexes. This doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice Kauaʻi's character and quality of life. Instead of turning more open space and agricultural land into housing developments, we need to strengthen our town centers and revitalize existing communities. Read More...
Economy
Kauaʻi is more dependent on tourism than any other island in Hawaiʻi. It is imperative that we expand our economy without expanding the number of visitors to our island. The county council needs to make it easier for farmers and manufacturers to start and grow their businesses. And we must ease onerous restrictions that make it difficult for families to run businesses from their homes. Read More...
Climate Change
Climate change and rising sea levels are an existential threat to our island. We need to get to zero carbon emissions by the second half of this century. The good news is that we can achieve many of our climate goals by taking measures that improve the quality of life for our people. Research shows the four areas local governments can influence the most are moving the grid towards 100 percent renewables, increasing the livable density of our towns to reduce our reliance on cars, making buildings more efficient, and producing less solid waste. Read More...
Traffic
Traffic comes with huge costs. But simply building new roads is not the solution. The only way to reduce the amount of time we spend driving is to create communities that do not require people to get in their car every time they need to run an errand, visit a neighbor, or go to work. We can't expect anyone to take the bus, walk, or ride a bike unless we create communities that make these options fast, efficient, comfortable, and safe. Read More...
This is a leap that I never expected to take. I have never been elected to public office, I'm not any good at asking people to donate money, and I don't have all of the answers. But, I believe in you. I believe in the power of democracy and the potential of our communities. And I believe that together, we can build a better future for Kaua‘i.