Bills

HR 38: URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE COMPLETE TRANSFER OF ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER MOTOR CARRIERS AND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING WATER CARRIERS, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: House
Latest Version Date: 2025-03-27

Current Status:

Passed

(2025-04-03: Resolution adopted in final form.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE COMPLETE TRANSFER OF ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER MOTOR CARRIERS AND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING WATER CARRIERS, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Version:

HR38 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	38
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the regulation and enforcement of motor carriers operating on public highways is essential to ensuring public safety, fair industry practices, and compliance with state laws; and

WHEREAS, under Hawaii's Motor Carrier Law, the Public Utilities Commission regulates motor carriers transporting passengers and property for compensation or hire; and

WHEREAS, at the end of fiscal year 2023, the Public Utilities Commission regulated approximately 1,741 motor carrier entities across the State, which entails oversight of tariff structures, annual financial reporting, and compliance with administrative requirements; and

WHEREAS, the enforcement of the Motor Carrier Law is a resource-intensive responsibility, and the Department of Transportation has a larger number of enforcement officers with a greater statewide presence, enabling more consistent and effective enforcement of motor carrier regulations; and

WHEREAS, Act 117, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, transferred the enforcement of the Motor Carrier Law from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Transportation, leaving the regulatory authority with the Public Utilities Commission; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation has experience in managing and enforcing transportation regulations across various sectors, allowing for a more streamlined, efficient, and comprehensive approach to motor carrier oversight, particularly in ensuring road safety and fair industry practices; and

WHEREAS, while the transfer of full regulatory authority over motor carriers to the Department of Transportation would require legislative action, the Public Utilities Commission's support for such a transition would help facilitate a smooth and effective regulatory shift in the best interest of the industry and the public; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Public Utilities Commission is urged to support the complete transfer of its regulatory authority over motor carriers and other means of transportation, including water carriers, to the Department of Transportation, subject to legislative action, to ensure more effective and comprehensive oversight of the industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission.

Report Title:

DOT; PUC; Motor Carrier Law; Regulatory Authority; Transfer

HR38

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	38
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

urging the public utilities commission to support the complete transfer of its regulatory authority over motor carriers and other means of transportation to the department of transportation.

WHEREAS, the regulation and enforcement of motor carriers operating on public highways is essential to ensuring public safety, fair industry practices, and compliance with state laws; and

WHEREAS, under Hawaii's Motor Carrier Law, the Public Utilities Commission regulates motor carriers transporting passengers and property for compensation or hire; and

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Public Utilities Commission is urged to support the complete transfer of its regulatory authority over motor carriers and other means of transportation to the Department of Transportation, subject to legislative action, to ensure more effective and comprehensive oversight of the industry; and

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DOT; PUC; Motor Carrier Law; Regulatory Authority; Transfer

Date	Status
Apr 3, 2025	Resolution adopted in final form.
Apr 3, 2025	Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Souza voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2).
Apr 3, 2025	Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1830), recommending adoption.
Apr 1, 2025	The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Tam, Pierick.
Mar 28, 2025	Resolution scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 04-01-25 2:00PM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Mar 28, 2025	Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on CPC as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Souza voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Hussey, Muraoka, Ward excused (4).
Mar 28, 2025	Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1670) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to CPC.
Mar 25, 2025	The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
Mar 21, 2025	Scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 03-25-25 9:10AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Mar 20, 2025	The committee(s) on TRN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-25-25.
Mar 18, 2025	Resolution scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 03-20-25 10:15AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Mar 14, 2025	Referred to TRN, CPC, referral sheet 22
Mar 6, 2025	Offered
Mar 4, 2025	To be offered.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Apr 1, 2025	The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	House Standing Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce	7 0 3 Passed
Mar 25, 2025	The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	House Standing Committee on Transportation	8 0 1 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii	*** Against	Mar 25, 2025
Department of Transportation	** Support
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission	** Support
Hawaii Transportation Association	*** Against	Apr 1, 2025
Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT)	*** Support	Mar 20, 2025
in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Transportation Association	** Support
Public Utilities Commission	** Support

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

HSCR1830 chun1 - HSCR.dotm clerk2 2 0 2004-10-13T00:57:00Z 2025-04-03T01:31:00Z 2025-04-03T01:31:00Z 2 204 1118 HSCR template, revision no. 00005 23551 58 20 1320 16.00 00005 Print 89 0 0 false false false EN-US JA AR-SA /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1830

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 38

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.R. No. 38, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE COMPLETE TRANSFER OF ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER MOTOR CARRIERS AND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING WATER CARRIERS, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to facilitate a comprehensive approach to motor carrier oversight that is in the best interest of the industry and of the public.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, and in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Transportation Association.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 38, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair

HSCR1670 Administrator HSCR.dotm clerk4 2 1 2004-10-13T00:57:00Z 2025-03-28T01:42:00Z 2025-03-28T01:42:00Z 2 325 1892 HSCR template, revision no. 00005 23272 80 24 2214 16.00 00005 Print 70 0 0 false false false EN-US KO X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1670

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 38

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.R. No. 38 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE COMPLETE TRANSFER OF ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER MOTOR CARRIERS AND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Public Utilities Commission to support the complete transfer of its regulatory authority over motor carriers and other means of transportation to the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Public Utilities Commission; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that effective regulation and enforcement of motor carriers operating on public highways is essential for public safety, fair industry practices, and compliance with state laws. While the Public Utilities Commission currently oversees motor carrier regulation, enforcement responsibilities have been transferred to the Department of Transportation, which has a broader enforcement presence and expertise in transportation oversight. This measure will provide a more streamlined and efficient regulatory framework for motor carriers throughout the State by transferring regulatory authority to the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that other means of transportation include water carriers; and

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 38, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 38, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Apr 1, 2025	HR38_HD1_TESTIMONY_CPC_04-01-25_.PDF
Mar 25, 2025	HR38_TESTIMONY_TRN_03-25-25_.PDF
Mar 20, 2025	HR38_TESTIMONY_TRN_03-20-25_.PDF

Authors shown for version:
HR38_HD1 (3/27/2025)