House Standing Committee on Transportation

Morning. Convening today's 09:30am agenda for the House Committee of Transportation here at the Hawaii State Legislature, Tuesday, 03/17/2026. This is our next part of the legislative process where bills have crossed over into the opposite chamber. So this is our first round of Senate bills. Again, my name is Darius.

I have the privilege to chair the House Committee on Transportation. This is my vice chair, Rep. Miyake, who is our vice chair for housing and transportation. So for today's agenda, we have several measures before us, but just wanna do a quick reminder for folks who are testifying. We can adhere to the 2 minute time limit per testifier. We need to adjourn before our floor sessions.

And for folks on Zoom, keep yourself muted. The chat function is for technical staff only and for technical issues. And the network failure of a where event of a failure, we will reschedule and notice appropriately. Please don't use trademark images to allow us to keep the videos up. And any other further things should occur, we will plan accordingly.

But today's agenda, we have several bills before us. If we can begin with our first agenda item, s b 3234 s d two related to traffic safety. Appropriate to an unspecified sum from the State Highway Fund for the Department of Transportation to install all way cross walks at sites of budding school properties. Vice chair for testimony.

Department of Transportation in support on Zoom.

Hi. Good morning, chair and vice chair of the committee. Robin Shishido DOT and we stand by our testimony. Thank you.

Thank you. Department of Education in support. Present. Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization in support. Hawaii Bicycling League in in support. Not present. City and county of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services in support. Hawaii Apple Seed Center for Law and Economic Justice in support, and five individuals in support. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on s b 3234 s t two? Seeing none, Chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Seeing none, let's move to our next agenda item before us. SB 3215 relating to harbor safety. Repeals the sentence of provisions of part three of Chapter 266 of a Year revised statutes, thereby making permanent the requirement the Department of Transportation to ensure its debts is securing on mooring lines for vessels to commercial docks, porters, piers, hoisin landings be performed by labor subject to collective bargaining. Vice chair for testimony.

I don't believe there's anyone signed up to testify. Okay. Seeing not measure.

Seeing no registered testify registered testifiers on sb 3215. Is anyone in person or online that could testify? See no one to ask questions of. Let's move on

next agenda item. S P 2698. S P two related transportation. First department of transportation to assess a per passenger head fee against cruise ship docking in the state commercial harbors in addition to existing court user fees. Establishes the cruise ship special fund repels existing law imposing the transient accommodations tax of cruise ships, effective retroactive to 01/01/2026, effective 07/01/2050. Vice chair for testing.

Department of Transportation in support.

Aloha, chair and vice chair, Dreana Kalili, deputy director of transportation for harbors. We stand on our recent testimony in support and happy to answer any questions the committee may. Thank you.

Thank you. Attorney General's office with comments.

Good morning, chair, vice chair, and member. My name is Yvonne Shinmura, deputy attorney general. We have submitted comments and the points are explained in our written testimony. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Hawaii Department of Taxation with comments.

... the Department of Taxation. We'll send out our comments. Thank you.

Hawaii Tourism Authority with comments. The Maritime Group in support. Terry fish Polynesian Adventure Tourism support. Honolulu Ship Supply and support. Hawaii Harbors users group in support, Matson Navigation in support, Hawaii Transportation Association with comments on Zoom.

Aloha, and happy Saint Patrick's Day. We stand on our comments, but we do wanna caution that we don't wanna see that the taxes are too high and that makes our, visitors not wanna come and use our pink shirt, the pink shirt Hawaii. Mahalo.

Thank you. ... Coalition with comments. Norwegian Cruise Line in support. Not present. Kauai Kilohana Plantation in support. McCabe Hamilton in support. Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments on Zoom.

Aloha. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii stands on its written comments. Thank you.

Thank you. Hawaii Pilots Association in support. Maui Chamber of Commerce with comments. Hawaii tour consultants in support. Anyone else online or in person wishing to testify on s b 2698 s d t?

Thank you. Deputy director Khalili.

Yes, chair.

Just question. Is it still the sought after amount $10 per head?

Yes. That is the amount that DOT recommends. Be for, you know, some of the improvements that were cited in, the original version of the building, putting Shorepower, I think that's the level of fee that we would need to collect to really move the needle and for us to move these projects.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you.

Members, any other questions? Okay. Let's move on to our next agenda item before us. SB 3156 s p one relating to federal military installations, authorizes Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the United States Department of Defense for the provision of services that federal military installations provided and only federal funds are used and title 23 United States code federal highway funds are excluded. Authorizes charging an administrative fee. Vice chair for this.

Department of Transportation in support.

Good morning, Robin Shishido Stand on Our submitted testimony in strong support. Thank you.

Thank you. Hawaii Military Affairs Council in support. Military and Community Relations Office, in DBEDT in support. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency in support, and one individual in support. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on s b 3156 s d one? Cena.

Thank you. Deputy director Shishido.

Yes.

Is there other states who have a similar agreement or is this potentially the first state agreement?

There's there's several others other states. I believe Texas is one and I know there's a handful and that's kind of how we modeled our and we use them language from.

Okay. Thank you. That was my only question. Members, any other questions? Seeing none, let's move on to our next agenda item.

Sb 3154 sd 2 related transportation and environmental review authorizes Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects as well as railroad, public transportation, and multimodal projects within the state. Allowing streamlined environmental reviews provides unlimited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements under 23 United States code Section 326 and 327. Place your participant.

There are, Department of Transportation in support.

Mike, Robin again with HDOT. Stand by written testimony from support. Thank you.

Thank you. And three individuals in support. Anyone else online or in person wishing to testify on sb 3154 s b two?

Thank you, members. Any other any questions. Seeing none as we want your next agenda. It'll be item number 4 SB 2146, SD, 1 related traffic infractions establishes a traffic fines task force that will examine the finished tiered traffic buying system, determine whether a similar system could be implemented in the state, and provide recommendations as to how a system could be implemented. Appropriate funds, vice chair participant.

Oye Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice in support. Oye Bicycling League in support. And three individuals in support and one with comments. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on SB 2146, SD 1. Seeing none, Chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions. Seeing none, let's move on to our next agenda item before SB 2667, SD 1. lane for transportation. Restricts motor vehicles that tow motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on road to three or more lanes going in the same direction with exemptions.

This applies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who's driving the far left lane on roads through more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to account for you with the population of 500,000 or more. Vice chair for

Department of Transportation in support.

Robin Hood HQ, stand by our submitted testimony in support.

Thank you. State of Hawaii judiciary with comments. Hawaii Transportation Association in support.

Aloha again. This is Tina Yamaki with the Hawaii Transportation Association. We are in strong support of this bill. Buses take off cars from the road, whether they're school buses or tour buses, and our newer semi trucks and all of the newer vehicles are able to keep up with traffic in the left lane. So we are very supportive of this measure. Mahalo.

Thank you. Thank you. And one individual in support. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on SB 2667, SD 1? Seeing none, chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Seeing none, I’ll move on to next agenda item, SB 2053, SD 2, relates to transportation and authorizes supporting documents used to transfer ownership of a motor vehicle to an insurer after payment of damages.

And dissolve of a total loss insurance settlement to be signed electronically. Requires insurance companies to indemnify and hold harmless director of finance for any claims resulting from the issuance of motor vehicles, titles, utilizing documents signed electronically without a notary. Effective 07/01/2050. Vice chair for Tisdale.

Department of Transportation in support.

Robert, HDOT. stand by your subject testimony in support. Thank you.

Thank you. City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services in support. Hawaii Insurers Council in support. American Property Casualty Insurance Association in support. Copart in support on Zoom. Excuse me.

Chris Delaney, SANGA, Government Relations First Strategies. I’m here on behalf of Copart, and we’re in strong support. I’ll stand on my written testimony, but respectfully ask that the committee pass SB 2053, SD 2, with an amendment setting the effective date to 07/01/2027. This is to allow counties sufficient time.

to prepare for implementation. Thank you.

Thank you, Chris. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on SB 2053, SD 2? Seeing none, chair.

Members, any questions? Okay. Seeing none, I do want to go on to our next agenda item, SB 2010, SD 2. Rating to motor vehicles. Authorizes the employment of motor vehicles and certain traffic violations have been alleged committed, provides that if a law enforcement officer lawfully starts a motor vehicle.

And the operator is cited for driving without a valid license. The officer shall not permit operator to resume the use of motor vehicle requires the motor vehicle to be moved by a licensed driver told at the corner's expense and provides a the site operator is responsible for rating the operator's transportation from the scene of the stock. Effective 03/22/2075. Vice chair for this time.

Department of Transportation in support.

Robert Ogan, DOTs and Byers and the testimony and support. Thank you.

Thank you. Attorney general's office with comments.

Commission chair, vice chair, members of the committee, deputy secretary general, Mark Tom for the department. Department just submit comments for Senate bill 2010, SD 2 specifically just revolves around the remedy section and just clarity for lienholders and for registered owners in this bill. We'll be here for any questions.

Thank you. Thank you. Hawaii Police Department with comments. Office of the public defender in opposition.

Good morning, vice chair Miyake, members of committee. My name is William Bentel, and I'm representing the Office of the Public Defender. Our main concern here is for the costs that are involved with the towing and the impoundment of the vehicles. The majority of our clients barely have enough money to make it through the day, living paycheck to paycheck. And the added possible cost of towing and the impoundment of a vehicle, the loss of the use of the vehicle can be highly detrimental to them.

And so, you know, we've outlined our concerns in regards to that. Also, we look at the situation as being one where there could be an in margin increase in litigation because people will want to fight the charges. They will want to fight the cost involved for the towing and the impoundment. There'll be a call for administrative Public Defender can only represent our clients when they're charged with criminal offenses. They cannot represent them or we cannot represent them in the civil part.

So if there's an admin hearing, they would be on their own to fight this. We have some suggestions at the end of our testimony. Perhaps, you know, having the vehicle towed, placed in impoundment, but the impoundment cost is waived for a period of time so that people can go and clear up what needs to be cleared up. You know, we are working with the judiciary to have people who are unlicensed get their licenses, clearing up their prior records, the stoppers and all of that. So people are working towards that.

And, you know, we just feel that maybe perhaps this is unnecessary. You know, if a person gets charged with driving without insurance or license, they gotta face those penalties already. That can be difficult. So thank you, and I'm available for any questions.

Thank you. Office of Hawaiian Affairs with comments. City and County of Honolulu, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney in support. And two individuals in support, one with comments. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on SB 2010, SD 2.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Seeing none, I'd like to move on to our last agenda item before us. Sb 2009 sd 2 relating to motor vehicles. Requires a new number of plates and tags or emblems for used motor vehicle transferred between private individuals.

Whereas each county director of finance to notify all applicable state and local agencies upon receiving official notification of a vehicle transfer from a transfer or requires each county director of finance to establish a centralized notification system for applicable agencies for every vehicle transfer by 07/01/.... Vice chair for testimony.

State of Hawaii judiciary with comments. County of Hawaii mayor's office in opposition. City and county of Honolulu department of customer services in opposition. County of Hawaii vehicle and registration and light licensing division in opposition. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on SB 2009 SD2? Seeing none.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Okay. Seeing none, let's recess. Reconvening our committee on transportation for today for their decision making. Okay. So members, if

we can go to the top of your agenda, s b two s b 3234ST2. I like to adopt an HD one for this measure. See folks remember this is a similar measure that we adopted in the house previously, but this, I guess was determined to be the vehicle, which is fine. But at this time for the purposes of the h t one, I like to insert the contents of the h t two of H P 24 and five is our h t one, which notates the different funds that can be used. It's also named after Tijuana.

And his discretion for D O T for the installation of these things. We'll blank out any appropriation amounts and note in the committee report the requested amount of $5,000,000 I wanted to affect the effective date for this measure and any technical amendments for clarity, consistent style. Members, any questions? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote, please.

Voting on S B 3234 S D 2. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and vice chair votes aye.[Roll Call]The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Members, I can move on to our next agenda item before us. SP 3,215, link to harbor safety. There's something to just adopt the HD one and effect the effective date. Members, any questions? Okay. Seeing none, make sure for the vote, please.

Voting on S B 3215. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Noting all members are present, are there any reservations? Any notable? Oh, reservations? Sorry. Yes. Reservations for rep Cochran?

Oh, sorry. No. No. Sorry. Retract that. Sorry. Wrong. Sorry.

Any no votes? Recommendations and adopt.

Thank you. Members next agenda item, SB 269 moving to transportation. I'd like to adopt an HD 1 for this measure. This was another similar measure that we had adopted previously in the committee. I wanna adopt the HD's testimony for the purpose of the HD 1.

I want to blank out any CHP fee assessment and note in the committee report a $10 requested amount per DOT defect, the effective date, and technical amendments for clarity and consistency. Members, any questions? Okay. Please call the roll.

Voting on SB 2698, SD 2. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any reservations? Reservations for Representative Cochran and Representative Muraoka. Any no votes? Reservation as well. Reservation for Representative Pierick. The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Members, I’d like to move on to our next agenda item before us, SB 3156, SD 1. For this one, members, we’ve adopted HD. 1, which makes technical amendments for clarity and consistency, including the effective date. I will note that this is another bill that we’ve heard previously, but we’ve been moving both versions. Members, any questions, comments, or concerns?

Do you want them to vote no on the previous measure?

SB 3156. Okay, sorry—let me go over it again. H.D. 1 includes technical amendments for clarity, consistency, and style, as well as the effective date. We’ve heard this previously, and both companion bills are moving. Members, any questions, comments, or concerns? Vice Chair, for the vote, please.

Voting on SB 3156, SD 1. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any reservations? Reservations for rep Muraoka. Any no votes? Seeing none, the recommend the recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, members. SP 3154 next. SD 2 related to transportation environmental review. For this, I'd like to just adopt an HD 1, on this measure and defect the effective date. Members, questions, comments, concerns. Same vice chair for the test. The vice chair for the whole.

Okay. Thank you, Membes. For this next measure before us, SB 2146, SD 1. I wanted, so before I adopt... Excuse me. Before I adopt HD 1, I wanna acknowledge that this has no teeth to changing the law, right? What they're trying to do is convene a group to review and then propose recommendations, which working groups do all the time in the legislature.

And I think previously, I've made it kinda clear. I think we've had consensus in the committee that we're maybe not necessarily not not supportive of measures like this, but as you folks know when we did the pedestrian fines, it was blanked it for the purpose of discussion.

I want to continue the discussion under the guise of a couple of things. Members, I passed out of paper in front of you. It's Act 59 of Session Laws of Hawaii 2021. This was passed in 2020. I believe under the guise of COVID happening and not trying to create blockage for community.

But since it's enactment, because we passed this law, we have now over $50 million in uncollected fines and fees from this. And my large concern is that you now have people who know they can get tickets and fines, and they could still get their license, and they can still drive their vehicle.

And I'm not trying to subject everybody to this, but I think if we're gonna have a discussion of reviewing policy and procedures around a tiered system, we also need to revisit systems that we've enacted previously in the legislature. And so for the purpose of that, I'd like to insert language into this bill to do a part two to entirely repeal what we did, or not what we did because we weren't there.

In 2020 for the purpose of this to repeal the provisions of Act 59 in Session Laws Hawaii 2020 to enable us to put stoppers on license and registration for unpaid collected tickets and fines. That's the first part. For the next part, I want to make sure that the Chair of the working group can appoint non-voting members, but all voting members of this working group shall be appointed by the Governor.

In the committee report, I wanna clarify to request the Judiciary to actually come up with a number needed for the convening of the working group. Tech amendments for clarity, consistency, and style, and defect the effective date. Oh, sorry. And then for the purposes of the repeal, they'll be creating a new section into 91D-10 to repeal section nine of Act 59. Okay. Members, questions, comments, concerns? Okay. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on SB 2146, SD 1. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any reservations? Any no votes? No votes for Rep. The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Members, our next agenda item before us s p 2667 related to transportation. For this measure, I'd like to adopt an HD one on this one and make sure we have the contents from HB 2026. This is another similar measure that we were we moved out of committee, but the Senate vehicle is the one that is being utilized. For the purposes of the effective date, will the effective date and note for the first fine at 250 dollars, the second fine at $500, and the third a thousand dollar fine.

Tech amendments are clarity, consistency, and style, and member's questions comments and concerns?

Sorry, sir. You did you say insert the effective date? Oh, delayed effective date?

[Background]

So I know we already have a bill like this or a law like this. Well, we I think the question during when we heard it was, are we able to collect on it? Have we been able to collect on it? Has that changed since?

So this was my version of the cleanup for the bill last so knowing so rep Moro is asking why I think just the purpose of the bill. When it was enacted, there was kind of no teeth to the bill. So last year, we tried to put teeth to the bill, and then it didn't pass out of the it didn't just didn't move in the legislative process. So for the continued discussion, we brought it back this year. This is my version of working with the introducer, which is senator LaFonte, as a cleanup mechanism to give more in clarity to O'Laughan, specifically Honolulu Police Department.

Because no to your point, they have not been successful.

Yeah. Okay. I have more

reservations. Okay.

Members, any other questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, thanks for the testimony. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on SB 2667 SD one, the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any reservations? Reservations. Reservations for rep. Muraoka. Any no votes? Seeing none, the recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. The next agenda item before is SB 2053, SD 2, related to transportation. Members, like to adopt an HD 1 on this one. This one, the effective date shall be July 1, 2027. And technical amendments, clarity, consistency, and style for the purpose of effecting that defective date. And Members, questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on SB 2053, SD 2. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? Seeing none. The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Members, s b 2010 s d two lanes motor vehicles. I like to adopt the house draft one. For this one, I also would like to do the same language of inserting into this bill, the repeal language for active United States and laws about you 2020. I'd like to also defect the effective date.

Page seven line 15, it shall be five years related to prior convictions of excessive speeding that currently is blank. And then on page eight lines 12 through 13, it'll be three years related to prior convictions of jailable traffic violations. My technical amendments were clearly consistent style. Members, questions, comments, or concerns?

Chair. Were any of the concerns with OHA and attorney general's office incorporated at all? Any amendments to their testimony and concerns by chance?

[background]

I got confirmed. So go to your point. Yeah. So the committee report, the attorney general's comments, and the office of the public defender, I I I think the bill has merits. But to your point, I think what you're asking, I did not get the how do you say that?

I if I can put ask them, should the bill be heard in the next committee, both the attorney general's office and the office of the public defender, could they work with the Judiciary Hawaiian Affairs Committee to see what language they could be good with? Because as they offered their testimony, I did not see a path forward without diluting the intent of the bill. So I would like to put that in the committee report for judiciary Hawaiian affairs for further discussion and to see what what could be done to not have it be a burden. But I I would then I I don't wanna debate them under specifically to the public defender, but this is a problem. So for that purpose, I don't have an Remediation that would satisfy those parties.

But should the next committee here it? I will then ask them the committee report to share my affairs to seek clarification from O P s T. And the attorney general on language that could be sufficient to satisfy the intent without diluting the intent as well.

Yeah. Okay.

No. Thank you. That's fine. Members, any further question, comments, or concerns? Vice chair for the vote, please.

Voting on SB 2010 s c two. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Reservations for rep Cochran. Any no votes? Seeing none, the recomendation is adopted.

Thank you. And Members, our last one, SB 2009, SD 2, related to motor vehicles. I'd like to adopt an HD 1. For this one I'm also going to insert the language to repeal the parking ticket via Act 59, Session Law 2020. I want to also just clarify. There is germaneness for the discussion of inserting these sections.

I am putting them in three different bills to have three different vehicles for the continued discussion of this. I'm hoping that these next committees shall look into why we put that all in. And I think once people realize how much uncollected fines we have, we can identify that it's a problem. I want to just, I always think we adopt things in good intent, but intent versus impact are totally different.

And so we had three vehicles to move this. I would have done this in the House, but at the time, it wasn't flagged. So defect the effective date for this measure. And then on page 4, line 12, we're not gonna, I'm gonna rather than referencing 43110C-1778, section 6, we're gonna suggest setting up the penalties in the section there.

Excuse me. And on page 5, lines 1 through 2, we're gonna add language to clarify that this applies only to the provided... Sorry. Provide clarify that this applies provided that the registered owner is not the cited operator. Tech amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

And just to make sure, defect the effective date. I think we've heard maybe a couple measures similar to this because, obviously, I think what's happening is that the transfer of title and vehicle for different individuals has become a problem on who is, who becomes liable.

I acknowledge that our DMVs are doing the best that they possibly can. So I hope in the purpose of giving teeth to who's the responsible party, this this may help. So with that, Members, questions, comments, or concerns? Rep Muraoka.

Chair, I'm gonna vote no on this simply because this is redundant. When you sell a private vehicle, at the very top of the title, you fill out the notice of transfer. You take that into the DMV. You get a stamp and that eliminates any liability moving forward.

The fact that the seller doesn't wanna take that additional step to protect him or herself, we shouldn't be creating another bill. It's already there. It's free. It's simple. I mean, every single title of every single vehicle in the state of Hawaii has the notice of transfer at the very top.

When you buy a car, especially like this bill, it's for private sellers. If I sold my car to you, you sign it, fill out your information. I sign it, fill out my information. I keep that. I hand you the title. I take that to the DMV, get it time stamped, and I am no longer liable for anything from the date and time of that stamp. So for those reasons, I'm a no.

Thank you. Members, any other further questions, comments, or concerns?

Chair, the effective date for this will be...

Defective. Currently, we'll... Yeah. There will not be effective date on this one. So we'll defect the effective date.

Okay. I was looking at the Judiciary's position.

I think if anything too, right, this is a measure that if it it should be adopted, it probably has to have a delayed effective date to allow the counties to adopt their systems. But for the purpose of effective date, it shall be defective. Okay. Members, Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on SB 2009, SD 2. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Noting Rep Muraoka's no vote. Any other no votes? Seeing none. The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. I'll see you folks on Thursday, and have a great Tuesday.