SB 1123: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to transportation.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the safety and wellbeing of all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, are of paramount importance, and ensuring a safe transportation environment is a core responsibility of the State.

     The legislature further finds that data consistently demonstrates that vehicle characteristics such as height, weight, and design significantly impact the severity and likelihood of injuries in vehicle-pedestrian collisions, necessitating a comprehensive review and establishment of safety standards to address these factors.  

     The legislature further finds that the state highway modernization and safety council is well positioned to lead this effort, leveraging its expertise and collaboration with local and federal authorities to develop actionable recommendations for vehicle safety standards tailored to Hawaii's needs.

     The legislature also finds that it is in the public interest to identify and classify vehicles that pose a greater risk to pedestrians, establish methods to mitigate these risks, and ensure that these recommendations inform policies at federal, state, and county levels, and educate and inform the public.

     Accordingly, this purpose of this Act is to require the state highway modernization and safety council to:

     (1)  Conduct a thorough evaluation of vehicle characteristics;

     (2)  Develop a set of standards to identify high-risk vehicles; and

     (3)  Submit a report including these standards and any actionable recommendations to the legislature, no later than December 1, 2026.

     SECTION 2.  The state highway safety and modernization council shall:

     (1)  Conduct a thorough evaluation of vehicle characteristics including but not limited to:

          (A)  Hood design;

          (B)  Bumper design;

          (C)  Windshield design;

          (D)  Vehicle height; and

          (E)  Vehicle weight.

     (2)  Develop a set of standards to identify high-risk vehicles; and

     (3)  Submit the developed set of standards and a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than December 1, 2026.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

State Highway Modernization and Safety Council; Vehicle Safety Standards; Motor Vehicles; Report

Description:

Requires the State Highway Modernization and Safety Council to conduct a thorough evaluation of vehicle characteristics and develop a set of standards to identify high-risk vehicles.  Requires a report to the Legislature.

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. 262

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1123

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 1123 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the State Highway Modernization and Safety Council to:

     (1)  Conduct a thorough evaluation of vehicle characteristics and develop a set of standards to identify high-risk vehicles; and

     (2)  Submit a report to the Legislature.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Hawaiʻi Bicycling League.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

     Your Committee finds that a core responsibility of the State is ensuring the safety of all roadway users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users.  Your Committee further finds that it is necessary to conduct a review of how vehicle characteristics impact collisions between vehicles and pedestrians.  By tasking the State Highway Modernization and Safety Council to conduct a thorough analysis of vehicle characteristics, this measure will provide the Council with the knowledge to better promote public safety.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1123 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,