SB 2726: DOT; County Transit Agencies; Youth Ride Free Pilot Program; Reimbursement; Public Transportation; Report; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to Public Transportation.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that accessible, affordable, and reliable public transportation is essential to the well-being of Hawaiʻi's youth and families.  Transportation barriers can limit access to education, employment, and community opportunities, particularly for low- and moderate-income households and rural communities.  Furthermore, the State currently faces a transportation system under strain.  Driver and service shortages for school bus and public transit operations have been documented in Hawaiʻi and contribute to elevated rates of student absenteeism and lost instructional time.

     The legislature further finds that a statewide pilot program providing fare-free youth transit can help mitigate these burdens by increasing utilization of public transit, easing demands on limited school bus fleets, reducing pressure on county transit systems, and supporting consistent access to school and other youth activities.  Fare-free transit programs align with the commitments made by the Hawaiʻi department of transportation (HDOT) under the settlement of Navahine F. v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, CIV. NO. 1CCV-22-0000631 (Hawaiʻi Cir.Ct.), in which HDOT agreed to develop and implement a comprehensive decarbonization and multi‐modal mobility strategy for Hawaiʻi's transportation system.  Specifically, this program comports with fuel demand reduction strategy HWY-M-12 of the Hawaii Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan published by HDOT on October 15, 2025, which calls for the enactment of legislation to incentivize counties to provide free public bus access to youth under eighteen and improve safety for youth on buses.

     The legislature additionally finds that providing fare-free public transit for youth advances both mobility and state climate goals, including reducing vehicle dependency, vehicle miles traveled, and greenhouse gas emissions.  Therefore, the program is in accord with the principles guiding the implementation of the green fee established by the legislature as Act 96, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025.  Creating a fare-free public transit for youth initiative would strengthen the State’s goal of increasing the resilience of infrastructure to climate-related disasters, which exemplifies the principles set forth in Act 96, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, to guide appropriations made with revenue generated by the green fee.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a two‐year statewide pilot program to provide year-round fare-free public transportation for:

     (1)  Residents eighteen years of age and younger; and

     (2)  One parent, legal custodian, or caregiver accompanying eligible children twelve years of age and younger.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of transportation a two-year youth ride free pilot program to provide fare-free access to county public transportation systems for residents of the State who are:

     (1)  Eighteen years of age and under; or

     (2)  A parent, legal custodian, or caregiver accompanying an eligible child twelve years of age or younger.

     (b)  Each county transit agency shall administer the pilot program within its jurisdiction; provided that the county may use existing fare-free card systems or other verification methods to issue and manage youth transit passes.

     (c)  For the purposes of the pilot program, each county shall allow eligible youth to access county public transit services by presenting:

     (1)  A valid county- or school-issued student identification card;

     (2)  A transit-issued youth fare card or pass; or

     (3)  Any other form of identification approved by the county transit agency.

     (d)  Administrative costs incurred by the counties in implementing and operating the pilot program shall be eligible for reimbursement from the State, subject to the availability of funds and approval by the department of transportation; provided that each county shall be eligible to be reimbursed in the following amounts:

     (1)  For fiscal year 2026 to 2027:

          (A)  $7,560,000 for the city and county of Honolulu;

          (B)  $241,000 for the county of Hawaii;

          (C)  $165,000 for the county of Kauai; and

          (D)  $560,000 for the county of Maui; and

     (2)  For fiscal year 2027 to 2028:

          (A)  $11,005,300 for the city and county of Honolulu;

          (B)  $482,000 for the county of Hawaii;

          (C)  $210,000 for the county of Kauai; and

          (D)  $1,051,200 for the county of Maui.

     (e)  The department of transportation, in coordination with the county transit agencies, shall collect and evaluate data on the youth ride free pilot program, including:

     (1)  Program participation and ridership levels;

     (2)  Fiscal impacts, including administrative and operational costs;

     (3)  Benefits to families and youth, including access to education, employment, and recreation;

     (4)  Environmental and traffic congestion impacts; and

     (5)  Other data to determine the costs and benefits of permanently implementing the program.

     (f)  The department of transportation shall submit a report on the implementation of the youth ride free pilot program to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.  The report shall include:

     (1)  A record of pilot program activities and accomplishments;

     (2)  A recommendation on whether to extend or make permanent the pilot program; and

     (3)  Any additional findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation.

     (g)  For the purposes of this section, "caregiver" means any individual eighteen years of age or older who is not a child's parent or legal custodian and who has:

     (1)  Undertaken the temporary or permanent care, custody, physical control, or supervision of a child; or

     (2)  Who has a legal or contractual duty to care for the health, safety, and welfare of a child.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $22,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the implementation of the youth ride free pilot program established pursuant to this Act, including to reimburse county transit agencies for administrative and operational expenses related to implementing the pilot program; provided that any funds not distributed to the county transit agencies may be expended by the department of transportation to administer and evaluate the pilot program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.

Report Title:

DOT; County Transit Agencies; Youth Ride Free Pilot Program; Reimbursement; Public Transportation; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a two-year Youth Ride Free Pilot Program within the Department of Transportation.  Specifies that certain Program administrative costs incurred by the counties are eligible for reimbursement from the State.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Sunsets 6/30/2028.

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