THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2946
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 667, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IA to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §667- ] [Underlined: Eligible bidder; subsequent bid.] [Underlined: (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the public sale of a mortgaged property under a foreclosure by action process pursuant to this part shall not be deemed final until the earliest of the following:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Fifteen days after the public sale, unless at least one or more eligible bidders submits a:]
[Underlined: (A)] [Underlined: Subsequent bid that is equal to or exceeds the amount of the latest and highest bid of the successful bidder; or]
[Underlined: (B)] [Underlined: Nonbinding written notice of intent to place a subsequent bid.]
[Underlined: The bid or written notice of intent to place a subsequent bid shall be sent to the mortgagee by certified mail, overnight delivery, or another method that allows for confirmation of the delivery date and shall be received by the mortgagee no later than fifteen days after the public sale; or]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Forty-five days after the public sale; provided that during the forty-five-day period, an eligible bidder may submit a subsequent bid in an amount that is equal to or exceeds the latest and highest bid of the successful bidder.]
[Underlined: (b) If an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid that is equal to or exceeds the amount of the latest and highest bid of the successful bidder, the eligible bidder shall be the final successful bidder and make a nonrefundable downpayment to the foreclosing mortgagee of no less than ten per cent of the highest successful bid price.]
[Underlined: (c) For the purposes of this section, "successful bidder" means the highest bidder who meets the requirements of the terms and conditions of the public sale.]"
SECTION 2. Section 667-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: "Eligible bidder" means:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: An eligible tenant buyer;]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: A prospective owner-occupant;]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: A nonprofit corporation whose primary activity is the development and preservation of affordable housing;]
[Underlined: (4)] [Underlined: A community land trust; or]
[Underlined: (5)] [Underlined: A state or county government department or agency.]
[Underlined: "Eligible tenant buyer" means a natural person who, at the time of a public sale, is:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Occupying the mortgaged property as the person's primary residence;]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Occupying the mortgaged property under a rental or lease agreement; and]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: Not the mortgagor or the child, spouse, or parent of the mortgagor.]
[Underlined: "Prospective owner-occupant" means a natural person who presents to the mortgagee an affidavit stating that the person:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Will occupy the mortgaged property as the person's primary residence within sixty days of the deed being recorded;]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Will maintain the person's occupancy in the mortgaged property for at least one year;]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: Is not the mortgagor or the child, spouse, or parent of the mortgagor; and]
[Underlined: (4)] [Underlined: Is not acting as the agent of any other person or entity in purchasing the mortgaged property.]"[Underlined: ]
SECTION 3. Section 667-29.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"667-29.5 Eligible bidder; subsequent bid. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the public sale of a mortgaged property under a power of sale foreclosure process pursuant to this part shall not be deemed final until the earliest of the following:
(1) Fifteen days after the public sale, unless at least one or more eligible bidders submits a:
(A) Subsequent bid that is equal to or exceeds the amount of the latest and highest bid of the successful bidder under section 667-29; or
(B) Nonbinding written notice of intent to place a subsequent bid.
The bid or written notice of intent to place a subsequent bid shall be sent to the mortgagee by certified mail, overnight delivery, or another method that allows for confirmation of the delivery date and shall be received by the mortgagee no later than fifteen days after the public sale; or
(2) Forty-five days after the public sale; provided that during the forty-five-day period, an eligible bidder may submit a subsequent bid in an amount that is equal to or exceeds the latest and highest bid of the successful bidder under section 667-29.
(b) If an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid that is equal to or exceeds the amount of the latest and highest bid of the successful bidder under section 667-29, the eligible bidder shall be the final successful bidder and make the nonrefundable downpayment required under section 667-29.
[[Struck through: (c) For the purposes of this section:]
[Struck through: "Eligible bidder" means:]
[Struck through: (1)] [Struck through: An eligible tenant buyer;]
[Struck through: (2)] [Struck through: A prospective owner-occupant;]
[Struck through: (3)] [Struck through: A nonprofit corporation whose primary activity is the development and preservation of affordable housing;]
[Struck through: (4)] [Struck through: A community land trust; or]
[Struck through: (5)] [Struck through: A state or county government department or agency.]
[Struck through: "Eligible tenant buyer" means a natural person who, at the time of a public sale, is:]
[Struck through: (1)] [Struck through: Occupying the mortgaged property as the person's primary residence;]
[Struck through: (2)] [Struck through: Occupying the mortgaged property under a rental or lease agreement; and]
[Struck through: (3)] [Struck through: Not the mortgagor or the child, spouse, or parent of the mortgagor.]
[Struck through: "Prospective owner-occupant" means a natural person who presents to the mortgagee an affidavit stating that the person:]
[Struck through: (1)] [Struck through: Will occupy the mortgaged property as the person's primary residence within sixty days of the deed being recorded;]
[Struck through: (2)] [Struck through: Will maintain the person's occupancy in the mortgaged property for at least one year;]
[Struck through: (3)] [Struck through: Is not the mortgagor or the child, spouse, or parent of the mortgagor; and]
[Struck through: (4)] [Struck through: Is not acting as the agent of any other person or entity in purchasing the mortgaged property.]]"
SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Judicial Foreclosures; Eligible Bidders; Subsequent Bids
Description:
Specifies that a judicial foreclosure sale is not final until the earliest of either fifteen days after the public sale, unless an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid or written notice of intent to submit a subsequent bid, or forty-five days after the public sale. Requires subsequent successful bidders to make a downpayment.
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