Hawaii, Massachusetts Voters Weigh Housing Measures

Two housing ballot measures propose different ways to expand supply. In Hawaiʻi, a constitutional amendment would let counties issue bonds to fund infrastructure for housing districts, repaid through increased property-tax revenue from redevelopment, which supporters say could enable construction without raising tax rates. In Massachusetts, Question 7 would cap minimum lot sizes for eligible single-family homes at 5,000 square feet where public water and sewer are available, aiming to make smaller starter homes easier to build. Supporters say the measure could encourage development near existing infrastructure and test whether voters will back state-level zoning reform, though its effect on affordability and housing production remains uncertain.