HB 2454: Safe Routes to School; Department of Transportation; Counties; Funding; Eligibility and Accountability

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that traffic safety around Hawaii's schools must be strengthened to enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school and make these transportation alternatives more appealing to students and their families.  The legislature further finds that ensuring sufficient funding for projects is a significant part of the safe routes to school program.  As such, Act 212, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, established the safe routes to school program vehicle registration surcharge to be deposited into the safe routes to school special fund to help pay for safe routes to school project.  As there is set to be an increase in the funding for safe routes to school projects, the legislature also finds that ensuring that safe routes to school funds are appropriately spent is equally important.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to clarify eligibility and improve accountability for the use of safe routes to school funds.

     SECTION 2.  Section 291C-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§291C-3  State and county safe routes to school programs; coordinators; grants; reports.  (a)  There is established, within the department of transportation, a safe routes to school program that shall, among other things, enhance traffic safety around Hawaii's schools, enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school, and make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative.  Beginning July 1, 2024, the program shall be responsible for developing and publishing goals and performance measures in coordination with the safe routes to school advisory committee and providing technical assistance to counties and community organizations in support of projects and programs that advance state and county goals.

     (b)  There is created, within the department of transportation, the position of safe routes to school program coordinator.  The safe routes to school program coordinator shall provide a central point of contact for the safe routes to school program.

     (c)  The department of transportation shall administer the safe routes to school program and may plan, design, construct, implement, and administer safe routes to school projects that serve the purposes stated in subsection (a).  For purposes of this section, eligible safe routes to school projects may be undertaken by the department of transportation, a county, or in partnership with other public agencies or schools.  The department of transportation may expend funds from the safe routes to school program special fund to implement this section, including for staff labor and non-labor expenses, and the central services assessment required by section 36-27.  The department of transportation may transfer funds from the safe routes to school program special fund to a county for the planning, design, construction, implementation, and administration of eligible safe routes to school projects undertaken by the county.

     [(c)] (d)  A county designated office, through the county safe routes to school program coordinator, and in consultation with the department of education, department of health, and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, shall provide safe routes to school funds for school-based and community-based workshops and infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects that will reduce vehicular traffic and congestion, encourage walking and bicycling, and promote health and safety around Hawaii's schools.

     (e)  Any funds from the safe routes to school program special fund allocated to a county to serve as matching funds for a federal-aid project shall have the corresponding federal funds obligated no later than two years after the date on which the department of transportation initially transferred the matching funds to the county for the project; provided that the department of transportation may grant an extension to obligate the funds for good cause shown.

     (f)  For any project undertaken by a county for which funds are allocated from the safe routes to school program special fund, the county shall expend all funds:

     (1)  Within four years from the date on which the department of transportation initially transferred funds for the project; or

     (2)  For federal-aid projects, within four years from the date federal funds were initially obligated;

provided that the department of transportation may grant an extension to complete the expenditure of funds for good cause shown.

     (g)  Any funds allocated to a county under this section that are not obligated or expended within the timeframes required in subsections (e) and (f), including funds associated with projects that are not completed, shall revert to the safe routes to school program special fund and may be reallocated by the department of transportation for other eligible safe routes to school projects.

     [(d)] (h)  The department of transportation shall expend funds from the safe routes to school program special fund in coordination with the safe routes to school advisory committee to be used for the implementation of the safe routes to school program plan and projects pursuant to section 291C-6(b)(2) and (3).  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, each county shall submit to the legislature an annual report on the status and progress of its county safe routes to school program, including an accounting of all grants provided through the program and a timeline for future grant awards.

     [(e)] (i)  Implementation of the county safe routes to school program shall take into consideration the need to:

     (1)  Fill a permanent, full-time position of safe routes to school coordinator within the county designated office;

     (2)  Maximize the participation of school officials and stakeholder groups in the community;

     (3)  Work in conjunction with county designated safe routes to school stakeholders and train volunteer facilitators for school-based workshops and community-based projects, including flexible training schedules;

     (4)  Train potential grant requestors and stakeholder groups in federal and state requirements necessary for procurement, contracts, design, and construction; and

     (5)  Allocate not less than ten per cent and not more than thirty per cent of safe routes to school funds for non-infrastructure-related activities or activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, public awareness campaigns, student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, or other non-infrastructure activities.

     [(f)] (j)  The safe routes to school advisory committee established pursuant to section 291C-6 shall develop a streamlined process for the safe routes to school program that meets federal and state requirements, simplifies the grant proposal application process, and expedites release of funding after completion of school-based and community-based projects for infrastructure and non-infrastructure.

     [(g)] (k)  The safe routes to school advisory committee established pursuant to section 291C-6 shall submit to the legislature an annual report of the status and progress of the safe routes to school program, including an accounting of all grants provided through the program and a timeline for future grant awards, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Safe Routes to School; Department of Transportation; Counties; Funding; Eligibility and Accountability

Description:

Requires the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program.  Amends the purposes for which funds of the Safe Routes to School Special Fund may be used for.  Establishes deadlines for when funds from Safe Routes to School Special Fund that are allocated to the counties should be obligated or expended by.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that traffic safety around Hawaii's schools must be strengthened to enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school and make these transportation alternatives more appealing to students and their families.  The legislature further finds that ensuring sufficient funding for projects is a significant part of the safe routes to school program.  As such, Act 212, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, established the safe routes to school program vehicle registration surcharge to be deposited into the safe routes to school special fund to help pay for safe routes to school project.  As there is set to be an increase in the funding for safe routes to school projects, the legislature also finds that ensuring that safe routes to school funds are appropriately spent is equally important.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to clarify eligibility and improve accountability for the use of safe routes to school funds.

     SECTION 2.  Section 291C-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§291C-3  State and county safe routes to school programs; coordinators; grants; reports.  (a)  There is established, within the department of transportation, a safe routes to school program that shall, among other things, enhance traffic safety around Hawaii's schools, enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school, and make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative.  Beginning July 1, 2024, the program shall be responsible for developing and publishing goals and performance measures in coordination with the safe routes to school advisory committee and providing technical assistance to counties and community organizations in support of projects and programs that advance state and county goals.

     (b)  There is created, within the department of transportation, the position of safe routes to school program coordinator.  The safe routes to school program coordinator shall provide a central point of contact for the safe routes to school program.

     (c)  The department of transportation shall administer the safe routes to school program and may plan, design, construct, implement, and administer safe routes to school projects that serve the purposes stated in subsection (a).  For purposes of this section, eligible safe routes to school projects may be undertaken by the department of transportation, a county, or in partnership with other public agencies or schools.  The department of transportation may expend funds from the safe routes to school program special fund to implement this section, including for staff labor and non-labor expenses, and the central services assessment required by section 36-27.  The department of transportation may transfer funds from the safe routes to school program special fund to a county for the planning, design, construction, implementation, and administration of eligible safe routes to school projects undertaken by the county.

     [(c)] (d)  A county designated office, through the county safe routes to school program coordinator, and in consultation with the department of education, department of health, and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, shall provide safe routes to school funds for school-based and community-based workshops and infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects that will reduce vehicular traffic and congestion, encourage walking and bicycling, and promote health and safety around Hawaii's schools.

     (e)  Any funds from the safe routes to school program special fund allocated to a county to serve as matching funds for a federal-aid project shall have the corresponding federal funds obligated no later than two years after the date on which the department of transportation initially transferred the matching funds to the county for the project; provided that the department of transportation may grant an extension to obligate the funds for good cause shown.

     (f)  For any project undertaken by a county for which funds are allocated from the safe routes to school program special fund, the county shall expend all funds:

     (1)  Within four years from the date on which the department of transportation initially transferred funds for the project; or

     (2)  For federal-aid projects, within four years from the date federal funds were initially obligated;

provided that the department of transportation may grant an extension to complete the expenditure of funds for good cause shown.

     (g)  Any funds allocated to a county under this section that are not obligated or expended within the timeframes required in subsections (e) and (f), including funds associated with projects that are not completed, shall revert to the safe routes to school program special fund and may be reallocated by the department of transportation for other eligible safe routes to school projects.

     [(d)] (h)  The department of transportation shall expend funds from the safe routes to school program special fund in coordination with the safe routes to school advisory committee to be used for the implementation of the safe routes to school program plan and projects pursuant to section 291C-6(b)(2) and (3).  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, each county shall submit to the legislature an annual report on the status and progress of its county safe routes to school program, including an accounting of all grants provided through the program and a timeline for future grant awards.

     [(e)] (i)  Implementation of the county safe routes to school program shall take into consideration the need to:

     (1)  Fill a permanent, full-time position of safe routes to school coordinator within the county designated office;

     (2)  Maximize the participation of school officials and stakeholder groups in the community;

     (3)  Work in conjunction with county designated safe routes to school stakeholders and train volunteer facilitators for school-based workshops and community-based projects, including flexible training schedules;

     (4)  Train potential grant requestors and stakeholder groups in federal and state requirements necessary for procurement, contracts, design, and construction; and

     (5)  Allocate not less than ten per cent and not more than thirty per cent of safe routes to school funds for non-infrastructure-related activities or activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, public awareness campaigns, student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, or other non-infrastructure activities.

     [(f)] (j)  The safe routes to school advisory committee established pursuant to section 291C-6 shall develop a streamlined process for the safe routes to school program that meets federal and state requirements, simplifies the grant proposal application process, and expedites release of funding after completion of school-based and community-based projects for infrastructure and non-infrastructure.

     [(g)] (k)  The safe routes to school advisory committee established pursuant to section 291C-6 shall submit to the legislature an annual report of the status and progress of the safe routes to school program, including an accounting of all grants provided through the program and a timeline for future grant awards, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Safe Routes to School; Department of Transportation; Counties; Funding; Eligibility and Accountability

Description:

Requires the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program.  Amends the purposes for which funds of the Safe Routes to School Special Fund may be used for.  Establishes deadlines for when funds from Safe Routes to School Special Fund that are allocated to the counties should be obligated or expended by.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to safe routes to school.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that traffic safety around Hawaii's schools must be strengthened to enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school and make these transportation alternatives more appealing to students and their families.  The legislature further finds that ensuring sufficient funding for projects is a significant part of the safe routes to school program.  As such, Act 212, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, established the safe routes to school program vehicle registration surcharge to be deposited into the safe routes to school special fund to help pay for safe routes to school project.  As there is set to be an increase in the funding for safe routes to school projects, the legislature also finds that ensuring that safe routes to school funds are appropriately spent is equally important.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to clarify eligibility and improve accountability for the use of safe routes to school funds.

     SECTION 2.  Section 291C-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§291C-3  [State and county safe routes to school programs; coordinators; grants;] Safe routes to school program; projects; counties; allocation and expenditure of funds; unused funds; reports.  (a)  There is established, within the department of transportation, a safe routes to school program that shall[, among other things, enhance traffic safety around Hawaii's schools, enable and] encourage and enable children to walk and bicycle to school[, and make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative.  Beginning July 1, 2024, the program shall be responsible for developing and publishing goals and performance measures in coordination with the safe routes to school advisory committee and providing technical assistance to counties and community organizations in support of projects and programs that advance state and county goals.] safely.

     (b)  [There is created, within the department of transportation, the position of safe routes to school program coordinator.  The safe routes to school program coordinator shall provide a central point of contact for the safe routes to school program.]  The department of transportation shall administer the safe routes to school program and may plan, design, construct, implement, and administer eligible safe routes to school projects.  For purposes of this section, eligible safe routes to school projects may be undertaken by the department of transportation, a county, or in partnership with other public agencies or schools.

     (c)  [A county designated office, through the county safe routes to school program coordinator, and in consultation with the department of education, department of health, and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, shall provide safe routes to school funds for school-based and community-based workshops and infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects that will reduce vehicular traffic and congestion, encourage walking and bicycling, and promote health and safety around Hawaii's schools.]  Any safe routes to school funds allocated to a county shall be obligated within two years of the date of allocation and expended within four years of obligation, unless an extension is approved by the department of transportation for

good cause shown.

     (d)  [The department of transportation shall expend funds from the safe routes to school program special fund in coordination with the safe routes to school advisory committee to be used for the implementation of the safe routes to school program plan and projects pursuant to section 291C-6(b)(2) and (3).  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, each county shall submit to the legislature an annual report on the status and progress of its county safe routes to school program, including an accounting of all grants provided through the program and a timeline for future grant awards.]  Any funds allocated to a county under this section that are not obligated or expended within the timeframes required in subsection (c), including funds associated with projects that are not completed, shall revert to the safe routes to school program special fund and may be reallocated by the department of transportation for other eligible safe routes to school projects.

     (e)  [Implementation of the county safe routes to school program shall take into consideration the need to:

     (1)  Fill a permanent, full-time position of safe routes to school coordinator within the county designated office;

     (2)  Maximize the participation of school officials and stakeholder groups in the community;

     (3)  Work in conjunction with county designated safe routes to school stakeholders and train volunteer facilitators for school-based workshops and community-based projects, including flexible training schedules;

     (4)  Train potential grant requestors and stakeholder groups in federal and state requirements necessary for procurement, contracts, design, and construction; and

     (5)  Allocate not less than ten per cent and not more than thirty per cent of safe routes to school funds for non-infrastructure-related activities or activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, public awareness campaigns, student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, or other non-infrastructure activities.

     (f)]  The safe routes to school advisory committee established pursuant to section 291C-6 shall develop a streamlined process for the safe routes to school program that meets federal and state requirements, simplifies the grant proposal application process, and expedites release of funding after completion of school-based and community-based projects for infrastructure and non-infrastructure.

     [(g)] (f)  The safe routes to school advisory committee established pursuant to section 291C-6 shall submit to the legislature an annual report of the status and progress of the safe routes to school program, including an accounting of all grants provided through the program and a timeline for future grant awards, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Safe Routes to School; Funding; Eligibility and Accountability

Description:

Clarifies eligibility and improves accountability for the use of Safe Routes to School funds.  Repeals the position of safe routes to school program coordinator.  Repeals certain requirements for county programs.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1037-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2454

      H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program;

     (2)  Amend the purposes for how the Department of Transportation may expend, or transfer to the counties, funds from the Safe Routes to School Special Fund; and

     (3)  Establish deadlines by when counties must obligate or expend funds allocated from the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund.  

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from AARP Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaiʻi Bicycling League; and Ulupono Initiative.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu; and Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute.

     As this bill moves through the legislative process, your Committee requests further consideration of:

     (1)  The Department of Transportation's comments, which endorse the measure as a way to streamline and strengthen the Safe Routes to School Program's administration and efficiency while recommending an amendment to ensure effective coordination with the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee; and

     (2)  Ulupono Initiative's comments, which express concern that this measure could weaken the Program's community-driven governance structure and transparent oversight, which were established under Act 244, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  504-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2454

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2454 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Clarify eligibility and improve accountability for the use of Safe Routes to School funds;

     (2)  Repeal the position of Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator; and

     (3)  Repeal certain requirements for county Safe Routes to School programs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and seven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Bicycling League; AARP Hawaii; Get Fit Kauaʻi; Ulupono Initiative; and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu; and Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice.

     You Committee finds that traffic safety around the State's schools must be strengthened to enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school.  Your Committee further finds that ensuring appropriate funding for projects is an important component of the Safe Routes to School Program.  Act 212, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, established the Safe Routes to School Program vehicle registration surcharge to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Special Fund to provide adequate funds for Safe Routes to School projects.  As there is set to be an increase in the funding for these projects, your Committee believes that adjustments in the use Safe Routes to School funds are warranted to ensure that the funds are appropriately used.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Restoring the statutory language of the State and County Safe Routes to Schools Programs under section 291C-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program (Program) and authorize the Department to plan, design, construct, implement, and administer safe routes to school projects;

     (3)  Authorizing eligible safe routes to school projects to be undertaken by the Department of Transportation, a county, or in partnership with other public agencies or schools;

     (4)  Authorizing the Department of Transportation to:

          (A)  Expend funds from the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund to implement the Program, including for staff labor and non-labor expenses and the central services assessment;

          (B)  Transfer funds from the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund to a county for the planning, design, construction, implementation, and administration of eligible Safe Routes to School Projects undertaken by the county;

     (5)  Establish deadlines for when funds from Safe Routes to School Special Fund that are allocated to the counties should be obligated or expended;

     (6)  Requiring funds from the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund that are allocated to a county and not obligated or expended by the established deadlines to revert to the Special Fund for reallocation by the Department of Transportation; and

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2454, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,