HR 119: requesting the department of transportation and department of law enforcement to collaborate to establish a state highway police force.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-03-16
Current Status:
In Progress
(2026-04-09: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1873-26), recommending adoption.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
This resolution asks the Department of Transportation and the Department of Law Enforcement to work together to create a state highway police force to enforce traffic laws and handle incidents on Hawaii’s roads. The proposed force would supplement county police and aim to reduce traffic deaths, improve roadway safety, and clear crashes more quickly.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
requesting the department of transportation and department of law enforcement to collaborate to establish a state highway police force.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
119 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
requesting the department of transportation and department of law enforcement to collaborate to establish a state highway police force.
WHEREAS, Hawaii's roadways have become increasingly dangerous, particularly during the previous year; and
WHEREAS, an alarming increase in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities, especially on Oahu, pushed the total number of deaths in 2025 on the State's roadways to 129, which is more than a twenty percent increase over the number of deaths in 2024 and the highest number since 2007; and
WHEREAS, safety on Hawaii's roads could improve with greater enforcement of traffic laws and better transportation planning; and
WHEREAS, county police departments are primarily responsible for enforcing traffic laws on the State's roadways; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of a state highway police force could supplement the efforts of county police departments; and
WHEREAS, collaboration between the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to establish a state highway police force has the potential to significantly improve traffic safety on Hawaii's roadways by combining expertise, resources, and enforcement authority to address traffic challenges more comprehensively and effectively; and
WHEREAS, a state highway police force would allow for integrated strategies that blend transportation's emphasis on infrastructure and traffic management with law enforcement's focus on compliance and deterrence; and
WHEREAS, a state highway police force could be specially trained and equipped to handle incidents on highways, ensuring rapid clearance of crashes and minimizing secondary accidents caused by congestion or confusion; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement are requested to collaborate to establish a state highway police force; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and Director of Law Enforcement.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Department of Transportation; Department of Law Enforcement; State Highway Police
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Date
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Status
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| Apr 9, 2026 | Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1873-26), recommending adoption. |
| Apr 7, 2026 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran. |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Resolution scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Cochran, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and none excused (0). |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1681-26), recommending referral to JHA. |
| Mar 31, 2026 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and Excused: none. |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Resolution scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 03-31-26 10:00AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Mar 18, 2026 | Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 19 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Offered |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Apr 7, 2026 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs |
Passed |
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| Mar 31, 2026 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
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.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Department of Transportation | *** Support | Apr 7, 2026 |
| Department of Transportation (HDOT) | *** Support | Apr 7, 2026 |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Apr 7, 2026 | HR119_TESTIMONY_JHA_04-07-26_.PDF |
| Mar 30, 2026 | HR119_TESTIMONY_TRN_03-31-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
58SEC
House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
30SEC
House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
43SEC
House Standing Committee on Transportation
Bill Author
