House Standing Committee on Transportation

Morning. Convening both our 10:30am agenda for the House Committee on Transportation and the 10:35 agenda for the House Committee on Transportation here in the Hawaii State Capitol. Today is Friday, March 27. We're in Conference Room 430. So today's agenda has bills for hearing and bills for decision making.

Members, what I'd like to do is just I'm gonna go through the measures of both agendas, and then all decision making will be at the end in completion of the joint hearing agenda. So with that, I'd like to start with our first agenda item today. SB 2470, SD 2, relating to transportation.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to evaluate intersection for the installation of a leading pedestrian interval, accessible pedestrian signal upon the first placement or replacement of a state owned pedestrian signal head. Requires the Department of Transportation to evaluate not fewer than 25 existing intersections within a pedestrian signal head.

Showing a pedestrian crash within the last five years has been evaluated. Ensures that the accessible pedestrian signals are installed in the intersections where leading pedestrian intervals are already installed. Requires additional safety improvements are implemented as necessary where leading pedestrian intervals and accessible pedestrian signals are installed.

Requires that Department of Transportation coordination with the counties to develop a program that allows pedestrians and community members to request installation of accessible production signals at specific intersections. Appropriates monies from the State Highway Fund, effective 7-1-2050. Vice Chair for testimony.

Department of Transportation in support.

Chair and Vice Chair. Dreana Kalili for the Department of Transportation. We stand in strong support. We stand on our written testimony, and I'll note that our Highways Deputy is online in case the committee has questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization in support. Disabilities and Communication Access Board in support. Department of Health with comments.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. I'm Lola Irvin with the Department of Health. The Department of Health is offering comments. And noting that I've been a mom that has pushed strollers three times, and a leading interval would be really helpful.

Especially when holding a kid's hand while pushing a stroller with one in the bag. And also in the future if I am pushing a walkthrough for myself, having the accessibility features would also be helpful. So when we build it for the people who have less ability or who have a lot of responsibility, these would be helpful.

So we do thank you for hearing SB 2470. We do make comments on preferring the earlier versions that moves it to be something that would be required and so that we would prioritize safe designs to prevent fatalities and serious injuries rather than waiting for it to happen so that we can reach Hawaii's vision.

We have not noted it in our testimony, but we do know that the federal government did pass in 36 CFR part 1190 docket number ATBCB effective September 2023 that all new and altered pedestrian signal heads installed at crosswalks must include accessible pedestrian signals.

We're waiting for the Justice Department to adopt that into ADA requirements. It would be great if Hawaii preceded the Justice Department in this current administration. So from a public health perspective, we do provide comments. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony.

Thank you. People for Active Transportation Hawaii in support. Hawaii Associate, Hawaii Association of the Blind, Howard Lesser.

Chair Kila, Vice Chair of Miyake, Committee Members. My name is Howard Lesser, and I am Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Hawaii Association of the Blind. Good morning. So Senate Bill 2470. Of course, we testified in support of House Bill 1884 through this committee. This bill is gonna save lives if it's passed at key intersections.

Excuse me. High traffic intersections, the installation of accessible pedestrian signals will be a lifesaver. It won't just involve people, help people who are blind, but people with mobility impairments, people with developmental disabilities. This bill will be essential. And so I've submitted my testimony, and thank you for the opportunity to testify and submit this.

Yes. Thank you. Good morning. I'm Louis Erteschik, Director of the Disability Rights Center. Thanks for hearing this bill. We really appreciate it. And I think as you recall, we heard the House companion. So I think you folks are somewhat familiar with the issue by now. I'm not sure I need to reiterate all the benefits of that, but we are in strong support.

What I would point out, looking at the testimony from DOT and some of my colleagues in the advocacy community, such as Appleseed and I believe Aloha Independent Living. There seems to be some question about whether the bill maybe could have a little more teeth to it as it did originally, and so I would urge you to take a look at that.

There also seems to be some question as to the actual cost. Our understanding was that it was not that expensive. At least that's what Appleseed has been saying. And yet DOT is asking for another $4 million. So I think if you're gonna move the bill out, those are the things I would urge the committee to look at. But either way, we certainly hope you'll advance the measure to allow us to continue on with it. Thank you.

Thank you. Hawaii Bicycling League in support. Second Vice President from the Hawaii Association of the Blind in support.

Okay. Good morning. So my name is Antonio Vega, Second Vice President of the Hawaii Association of the Blind. So I wanna give you a real example. So I walked here from Makiki. Took me around thirty minutes. You know, I walk around a lot. Honolulu, I think Honolulu is a very walkable city. I use the bus as well. I love it.

That's one of the reasons why I'm living in in Hawaii. I used to live in Miami. Much more difficult to get around independently. Right here, just, I think it's Punchbowl, there's a crosswalk. The white lines that indicate the crosswalk are extremely faded.

I'm not totally blind, but I'm very blind. And I have an extremely hard time seeing those faded lines, but that's an audible crosswalk. So I know which way to walk when I start crossing, even though I can't see the other side. But there's situations. I think there's one on... No, it's not Kapiolani.

It's Kalākaua and maybe Kapiolani. There's an extremely faded crosswalk right there where, and there's no audible crosswalk. It's very confusing to cross that side. And especially in a very complex, you know, bigger crosswalk, you can start to wander off into the area that you're not supposed to go.

So that just one small example where an audible crosswalk is extremely helpful to somebody like myself or somebody who is totally blind. And, you know, that, as Howard mentioned, will save lives. It will not only impact the lives of people like myself, people with a visual impairment, but also motorists, bicyclists, and just about everyone. You know? If we're safer, everybody's safer. So I strongly urge that you support this bill. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice in support.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. My name is Abbey Seitz and I'm testifying on behalf of Hawaii Appleseed in strong support of this measure. And along with some of my colleagues here, we also had a number of suggested amendments in our testimony. I just wanted to highlight that leading pedestrian intervals are really make it easier for both drivers and pedestrians.

I think the benefits of pedestrians have been really well explained by some of my colleagues here and really emphasize in our testimony that this very low cost, low cost amenity has been shown to have really large effectiveness in the cities where it's been implemented. In Seattle, for example, where they've implemented LPIs.

There's been a 34% reduction in pedestrian injuries and fatalities. It's also easier for drivers to see pedestrians crossing and so makes it a more easier environment for everyone to navigate. But as emphasized by the other testifiers, it's really crucial to pair these investments with accessible pedestrian signals.

Legally, it's also in our best interest to have a more proactive approach on this. As discussed in my testimony, there's been increasingly a number of cities that have faced lawsuits for not making their intersections accessible and have resulted in essentially the mandate, mandated, ordered to install accessible pedestrian signals.

So in summary, you know, in the wake of rising pedestrian fatalities with 2025 being one of our most dangerous years in almost two decades. I think it's critical that we make these improvements at our intersections and make them as safe and accessible as possible. Thank you so much for hearing this bill.

Get Fit Kauai in support, National Federation of the Blind in support, and four individuals in support. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on SB 2470, SD 2? Seeing none, Chair.

Thank you. Deputy Shishido, are you online?

Yes.

Okay. I have a clarifying question. I thought, what does the DOT actually operate traffic signals? I thought the counties operate all the traffic signals.

Yep. The City and County operates our traffic signals.

Across the state?

Just on Oahu and Hawaii Island.

And every other, so Maui, every stoplight is DOT and Kauai is DOT?

So on on Maui, the state operates the state ones and the county operates the county ones. On Kauai, the state operates the county ones because they only have three. We have 27, I believe. So each each island is different.

Because I think that's my only... I know what they're trying to accomplish, but then it gets convoluted because are you focused in doing the work of the county and taking on that responsibility?

Okay. I think in the next committee, should the bill advance further, can you just work with them to identify in the testimony you folks submit where jurisdictional intersections exist for the committees to understand and the rules that exist in that county to state relationship, please. Members, any other questions? Rep Cochran.

Mr. Shishido, so I mean, it says this to require you folks to coordinate with counties to develop such a program. I mean, it's asking you already. Right? Is that your read of this? It's gonna require you to basically collaborate because, yes, as stated, Maui County, we have county and state and all sorts of mix of kuleana on the lights.

Yeah. So the one section, it says in coordination with the counties, DOT shall develop and maintain a program. So that's that part. I think, Representative Kila, you were just asking to just kinda clarify that in certain counties who operates the signals and so forth.

Oh, yeah. Because I think it's important I think for the next committee to understand that I don't I don't want them thinking that we operate all statewide signals because that's not obviously the existence on Maui. I mean, Hawaii Island and Oahu. And I think just getting some clarity on what that relationship looks like now when it comes to repairs or operations for further outstanding.

Yeah. And thank you, Mr. Shishido, for your work in collaboration with the county. Thank you.

Alright. Okay Thank you. Remember any further questions? Seeing none members who want to next agenda Item P 3152 T2 really commercial port administration. Sorry.

RHN Ames the harbors divisions of the Department of Transportation to the commercial ports division and distinguishes between the terms harbors and commercial ports around the statues. Vice chair for testimony.

Department of Transportation in support.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair. Thank you for hearing this bill. I'm Drake Levy with DOT. This is one of our admin bills, and I think it's gonna be very important to you in helping everyone understand the difference between our commercial ports and which are under our jurisdiction and other harbors, which are under DLNRs. Available for questions.

Thank you. DLNR with comments. Young Brothers in support. The Maritime Group in support. Hawaii Harbors users group in support.

Anyone else online or in person wishing to testify on sb 3152 s d two? Seeing none, chair.

Thank you. Members, any questions? K. Seeing none, I wanna roll into h 126 HR 118 in Tandem, requesting the Department of Transportation and coordination with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to convene a working group to evaluate the feasibility of establishing state owner state controlled warehouse and logistic facilities. Near ports, harbors, and airports to reduce material costs associated with publicly financed housing projects by your participants.

HTR 126.

HR 118 in tandem.

Thank you. Department of Transportation with comments.

Chair, Vice Chair, Drake Levy, Department of Transportation. Our comments are basically outlining the makeup of the committee and then DOT's role as the Chair. A lot of the tasks that are assigned to the work group are outside the purview of DOT. I think we can nail number one, but items two through eight will need other outside expertise. So we just ask that you may you consider assignment of a chair role considering our limited knowledge and rule on the on the overall work ethic.

Thank you.

Thank you. HHFDC in support. Thank you. Pacific Resource Partnership in support. Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters in support.

Hello, Chairs, Vice Chairs, Members of the Committee. Sam Kim with Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters testifying in strong support. It's resolution.

We're standing under a One23. Thank you. Hashtag. Thank you, Sam.

Hashtag. Let's recess one. Two, three.

Sorry about that. Continuing with testimony, Vice Chair.

Thank you. General Contractors Association of Hawaii in support. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HCR 126 and HR 11E. Seeing none.

Thank you, DOT. So regarding the testimony then, deputy, would it be DOT's position to would you rather have it be co-chaired between yourselves and each each FTC? And that way, the group's responsibility is gonna be divided up accordingly to that capacity.

I think so. I think our point is that the chair should have a lot of over like, a lot of expertise and knowledge of most of the work of the working group. And so I think the co-chair could be appropriate. And I I think we appreciate the inclusion of private sector entities including PRP and GCA. Because I think they have the on the ground expertise needed to really get down to the data and how this warehousing program could really support reducing housing construction costs.

Thank Thank you, deputy. Members, any other questions?

Sure.

Rep. Cochran?

I'm sorry. For

Deputy?

Yes. Miss duty. Hi. Thank you for being here. Do you have a kind of a guesstimate of how many facilities are potentially, could be utilized for this type of purpose?

So I can only speak to harbors. I'm not familiar with what airports has in its inventory. We've actually for harbors, we have spent quite a bit of investment tearing down warehouses because they a lot of them are erected in the thirties and forties and just don't serve the purpose that they had originally intended. Also, as shipping mechanisms have changed, right, containerization became a really big thing in the seventies, and our facilities have been trying to keep up.

And so it may end up that it's not a warehouse per se, but it could just be an open lot where we're storing containers full of materials.

So those those are the kinds of things that we'll need to drill into. So I don't have, a specific number of, hey. We have these many warehouse facilities. I can tell you in Honolulu Harbor, we have about eight warehouse facilities, but they are in questionable condition, and I wouldn't recommend those for this purpose in the condition they're in.

Right. Okay. And, Chair, follow-up, please? And so it's also mentioned that these lands are highly regulated and what are usable for you folks are revenue generators for you folks. So, you know that I sounds like that may cut down, you know, the utilization that this, bill is seeking to do or or reso.

Sorry. Are you so speaking for harbors and not so much Yeah.

Yeah. No.

Yeah. I hope

I hope like I say,

they have the diversion of funds provision. Harbors doesn't have that, but we for us, it's a balance. Right? We wanna make sure we're supporting the state's critical supply chain. Right?

90 percent of goods are coming in to report. But also we because we're only special funded, we need to make sure that we're continuing to generate revenue to support our operations. So I think we're for the harbor side, we could be open to to the findings of the working group, but that balance is gonna be incredibly important. Okay. And, Chair, lastly?

Yes, please.

In your, I guess, your department or yours, I don't know if you could just personally say, but do you think this is the highest and best use for such land?

The highest and best use of most ports land is to support the movement of containers off a ship onto the ground onto a truck and out the gate as quickly as possible. Do we have lands that could be used to support the supply chain not in that fashion? Probably. But it's just a matter of the location. Right?

Because it doesn't make sense if we're trucking materials all the way out of the way and then back. So I think we can find a solution, but I think the study is incredibly important to figure out what the highest and best use of some of our lands and whether this purpose is the highest investment. So yeah. Alright. Yeah.

Thank you for your time. Thank you.

Thank you, Rep. No. I appreciate the clarifying questions, and I I think they were actually really good. So thank you, rep.

Members, any further questions?

Thank you. Yes.

Oh, sorry. Question? HS HHFDC. Mister Minakami. Come, me.

Okay. And so thank you for being here. And so your thought process is, I guess, bulk purchases, warehousing, you know, will bring down, I guess, the general cost of to build to build houses.

It could. We'd like to reach out to stakeholders and get their feedback, but it could.

Okay. And so, this working group per se, would focus on this for a year, you know, and then come up with recommendations and what have you or a report at the end. In the meantime, what is HHSDC doing? You know, while this will be undertaken, you know, currently to address what this is hoping to find solutions to.

You know? So we are looking at alternative construction methods to reduce the cost of housing. So we hope to launch a pilot project later this year.

Okay. On this island or does there do you have any It

will be on the wall.

Alright. Like to see you on Maui. Alright. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir. Members, any further questions? Seeing none, that's recess. Recommending our committee of the Media and Transportation of the Joint Hearing of the Committee on Transportation and Housing. So members are going to decision making about the 10:30am agenda and the 10:35AM agenda.

I wanna acknowledge that this is probably our last substantive committee hearing for this legislative session. We probably about maybe one or two more resolution hearings. But at that point we're heading into the last stretch of the final committees. So I just be remiss to not think both the committees on housing and transportation staff supported us through this legislative session. The IT staff my staff, but me okay stuff that's in staff for getting us to this point.

And every stakeholder has participated in this process. And with that SB 2470 to SB 2470 SD 2 members like to adopt the HD one for this measure. So this one I'm going to defect the effective date as each of my soul for us. I'm gonna blank any appropriation amount. I'm pretty sure it's already there.

And the committee report, I need the DOT to clarify cost with the next committee. I'm gonna also amend the language that they may evaluate up to 25 stoplights as as put forth in the bill, but they shall evaluate should be no less than 10, giving them flexibility. I wanna acknowledge the financial constraints at the legislatures, and and I think my amendments are substantive to still support it. I think if we leave it as 25, the bill's future looks a lot more bleak.

If I can lower it just to give them some threshold of what's capable.

I think that can lead to more success. So that's the intent for my amendments. Members questions, comments or concerns. Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on SB 2470 SD to the recommendation is a pass with amendments Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Evslin, aye. Representative Grandinetti.

Aye. Representative Kitagawa aye. Representative La Chica is excused. Representative Muraoka is excused and Representative Pierick is excused. The recommendation is adopted. I'm sorry, Representative Cochran. I'm sorry.

Yes, aye. Okay the recommendation is adopted.

adopted members. Our next agenda item SB 3152 SD 2 for this one members. I want to talk to HD one. What largely we're going to do is to make it easier for HMS because this is a very substantive bill and amendment. We're gonna adopt HB 2332 HD one and its companion form is the same bill, but the vehicle decided to move as a Senate one.

So for that, I'm going to give the request that we do several technical amendments and numerous technical amendments for clarity, consistency, and style. Fixing both the formatting of the intended measure and substantive technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style members, questions, comments or concerns. Oh sorry. In the committee report. I want to ask the DOT to work also with the next committee to clarify how this if the intent in the next couple of years is to transfer small boat harbors as well.

Just for clarifying how that may work so we can prepare for that as well. Members further questions, comments, concerns seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on. Okay on SB 3,152 SD 2, noting the excuse absences of Representative La Chica, Muraoka, and Pierick. For the remaining of these this hearing. Any Members voting with reservations? Any no votes?

Seeing none, the recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, members. So this is for decision making. We heard these previous measures on Tuesday, March 24 under 9AM hearing. So for this one, Members, SB2694 SD2. I'm gonna make several amendments to this one.

So I wanna adopt an HD1 for this measure. Members for this one. I'm going in. I'm gonna remove the references and languages as the intended measure for this bill to do water fleecy in there. Water water inflation area carrier index.

The wiki substantive. I'm gonna remove that and leave the current chapter because I would like to do so for this one, I'm gonna remove I'm gonna state that I'm gonna remove substantive provisions and of the intended bill as drafted. I'm gonna insert language that prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from allowing or making decisions and establishing rules regarding cross subsidization on regulated water carriers.

I think as we heard in the when we heard it on Tuesday, I think the fact that you're having cross subsidization, I'm not against it, but if we're cross subsidizing LCLs on one off the back of other customers, I don't think that's fair. And if we're trying to make sure that cost is not affected for all these industries, I think there needs to be a fair level field for that.

I I think there we've heard other mechanisms for the state to potentially subsidize. I think that that is the legislature's intent, then we should view it as that. But I don't want the PUC moving that in that authority. It should be legislatively oversaw. And I'm gonna do tech amendments for clarity, consistency, and style, and each of my social defect the effective date.

So for that, like the doctor HD1 Members questions, comments or concerns. Sure. Rep Cochran.

The, So, yeah, when we discuss this, I know there was concerns about automatic the automatic adjustments.

So I'm repealing all that language. So there's a House bill moving that still has it. Yeah. If that's the plan, I'll leave it in there. But I for the Senate bill, I'm I wanna remove I'm gonna repeal that language and keep 371 as listed to remove the authority for cross subsidization.

Okay. So this version being removed? Yeah. Okay. And this one has that agricultural exemption motion.

Remember for the AG product?

Yeah. So my intended of the language is that the PUC shall no longer make decisions like that to do LCO. I'm all for the subsidies.

Right. Right.

But I I think like the large concern that has come out is that if the operators under the water the water carrier oversight are saying that the PUC is making decisions on subsidization, and they're having to front down costs on LCLs from other customers. I'm not opposed to that, but I think that should be done at the legislative level, none of the PCs level because pretty much this one. They're they're that's what they're doing.

Okay I hear you there. And then one more question.

Yes.

So, that there was a discussion about the two year cooling off period. You know, like, no more you know, I think they're in that two year well, I don't know if it's prohibition, but of of raising fees and things. So is that are you addressing that at all?

It's pretty much so my what me stating it like that, the bill no longer has any reference to any inflationary care index anymore. My intent now is to move the bill forward to repeal the PDC's authority or decision making that they've done to subsidize Carbo. So if the house bill continues to move, that still exists in the house bill, but in the Senate bill, it no longer exists.

Okay. Thank you for the amendments.

Yeah. Chair. Rep. Chair.

Yeah. Okay.

Thank you. I appreciate the dialogue we had, and I'm grateful that the Maui Chambers of Commerce and HFIA brought up that subsidy piece. So I'm grateful that you're laying everything out on the table and that, you know, we can address everything as such. So I appreciate it. Thank you.

Well, I think largely too, right, the I if YB is having to I think and I wanna clarify. Right? I can acknowledge the concerns of the operators that exist, but legislation and customer service are two separate things, and I I I do not appreciate that being bought forth to the committee. I want that handled at a in a private sector with the PUC. The legislation is being put forth here.

But I think through the discussion of the proposed legislation, the PUC and all these other customers are doing things at the level of the PUC, which I have great concerns because that authority, I think, should be sought legislatively, not not at the rulemaking authority because pretty much with the PUC Has allowed in their decision making is trying to subsidize one industry, which I'm not against, but in order to subsidize the industry without the financial support they're putting on the backs of other customers.

So when customers are talking about high rates of what they have to ship versus the LCL is that don't have to ship that cost. That's been my great concern. So everything should be on the table for cost savings, and that's

I agree.

my intent.

And sure.

The conference?

So, I mean, there's another company, Pasha, Pasha. So they're not?

I from my understanding, Pasha does not participate fully in in our island cargo. I believe they do cargo from one port directly to the main port. I I'm not too sure if they're a regular water carrier because regular water carriers specifically go port to port in the state.

Oh, within the state?

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. That's the difference. Okay.

Within the state.

Members for any further questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote, please.

Voting on SB2694 SD2. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? Seeing none, the recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, members. SB299SD1 related to clean fuel standard. Excuse me. Previously, we heard the companion measure. The companion crossed into the Senate, but that measure no longer moved.

So this is our only vehicle left for this discussion. I we previously heard this last year. We previously heard in the committee. In the committee on the house bill, I did substantive amendments to feel comfortable moving this bill forward. So in the in the custom and practice of the legislature, middle committees have to seek prior concurrence before amending anything.

And with prior concurrence from the first committee, members would like to adopt a HD one for this one. So we're gonna amend it back to the language that exists in HP nineteen eighty six HD two for the different rulemaking authority. And I wanna clarify in on page six nine ten, I'm gonna amend Department of Transportation shall also adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91. So that it's consistent with the first section of shall for rulemaking.

And with that tech amendments, we're gonna also defect the effective date of s b two nine nine and continue the discussion in the next committee.

And I appreciate the concerns that were brought forth in the testimony. And I just wanna clarify, I think, with everyone who has proposed all these amendments, h b as HB1986 exists in the house draft, I believe it actually answers a lot of the folks' concerns. So that's why we're amending it to be reflective of that. With that, members questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, make sure for the vote, please.

Voting on SB2999 SD1 HD1. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any reservations? Any no votes? Seeing none, the recommendation

Thank you, members. SB3029 SD1. I'd like to adopt HD one for this measure. We've heard this before in the committee last year, and it's not that I'm against this program. I'm also just trying to acknowledge that even this year we're in financial constraints, but I do appreciate the intent of the introduce or what they're trying to accomplish.

So members for this, and I wanna adopt HD1. And for this, we're gonna do tech amendments for clarity, consistency, and style. I'm gonna insert language to pilot only one county with below a population of 300,000. We're gonna defect the effective date. Each CDA will be the authority to pick the pilot county, and the county shall consult with Department of Health of best practices of implementing the pilot program.

And the next committee, Whether it's each CDA or Department of Health. You need to clarify what cost is being asked if we're going to pilot one specific county so that the finance committee and the Legislature fully intends what's being asked of us to be done. With that members questions, comments or concerns so chair Cochran

so you are narrowing narrowing this down instead of all counties just when one that's a does that that under 300 population? What? That's

I've heard about a while.

City and county only. Yeah. Okay. I mean, my For

every island, so Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island could submit the proposals to HCD, and HCD will determine which county to pilot the program on.

I mean and and, Miyake, you know our party our town parties, Wailuku Town Park first Friday, second it's kinda like that already, I feel, you know. And so we're, again, maybe got it going on more than other counties. So I was just like, why do why does Maui County gotta ask HCDA? Because we're already doing it. So

Well, I think the intent actually then is that should Maui submit the proposals of what you folks are already doing, they can actually get funded from CDA and all. Instead of doing the new

M and A. Yeah. Because county funds those now. Right. So alright.

Sure. But, yeah, we we come check out our pilots. Fun fun parties.

I am excited for the members. Any further questions, comments or concerns? I share for the book, please.

SB3029 SD1. The recommendation is passed with amendments. Are there any reservations? Any notebooks? Seeing none.

The recommendation.

Thank you. Okay. Members for our joint agenda on the Committee of Transportation, Committee on Housing. HCR 126, HR 118 in tandem. Members, I wanna adopt the HD 1 for this one. So we're gonna amend it that both the Department of Transportation and HHFDC shall serve in co-chair capacity for the purposes of convening the working group and one member of the working group shall be appointed from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands Chair or Chair designee.

If I can just briefly talk real quick about the intent of this measure, I think this committee we cross pollinate a lot. And the one thing that consistently come up before us is the cost of infrastructure, the cost of housing, and the cost of labor, the cost of goods.

And I look at our movement of cargo as it relates to the DOT and how we do potentially have plans that exist, but also we are the ones who have the knowledge of how quickly these things need to move. Over the interim, I had asked the Legislative Research Bureau to do a cost analysis study for me on basic cost of housing goods such as nail and lumber.

And funny enough, the cost of nails and lumber have gone down, but inflation has significantly affected the final cost of what's being offered. I think when we've had discussions at both the levels of Department of Hawaii Homelands and HHFDC is that we have lacked so much space here in the state.

And if we have the opportunity to procure several thousand different pieces of equipment to help make house just that much less, I think it could pay in the final dividends of what the home is being offered. So I want to just thank both HHFDC and DOT for not, for not being afraid to step up to the plate of what this could look like.

I was only thank my co-introducer in the Senate, Senator Dela Cruz, for acknowledging that this could potentially be a path forward for the state of how we do housing. I acknowledge that LIHTC and every subsidy we offer to make the final cost that much cheaper, but If we're also looking at every other way to make better bang for our buck, it starts at our state projects as well.

So that was my intent, and I really look forward, if should the Legislature adopt this in both chambers, what our agencies can come up with for next session to propose to the Legislature. So that was my soapbox on this one, and I appreciate you folks on hearing this with us. With that, Members, questions, comments, or concerns?

Chair. Yeah. I mean, I like innovative, creative ways of thinking and so. You know, reading all the, not many testimonies came in, but they seem to be very focused on maybe one particular wood as you stated nails like that. I've been looking into different alternative ways and perhaps they're not wood.

They're steel. You know they're metal. You're going to have, you know, drill bits instead of hammers type things. So I mean, hopefully, these alternative means of building can also be looked at. And, yeah, we want, we want both. We want warehousing. We want all that type of stuff. So.

Yeah. And I think even to acknowledging that neighbor island cost, you folks are in for, bear more cost for construction. And if there's a way for us to store things on neighbor island, so when your projects are occurring, it can make the project that much more affordable. I'm excited.

And I just, I welcome your perspective because I know on Maui County, the square foot is for per house, the per square foot pricing for housing is so much more. And I think too if we can find a way to help the neighbor islands on the final cost of homes, it's super important. So I thank the neighbor islands too for being present in this committee on that matter.

Appreciate that. Yeah. Lahaina is being quoted like $1,000.

Yeah. That's crazy.

Can't do that.

And we acknowledge the first referral of this measure was a Transportation comma Housing, but we did it as a joint because I think it was just easier that way to meet us. So with that, Members, further questions, comments, and concerns? Adopting the HD 1 as proposed. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HCR 126, HR 118. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any reservations? Any no votes? Seeing none. The recommendation is adopted. For Housing Committee. Same recommendation.

Voting on HCR 126 and HR 118. The Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Noting excused absences of Reps La Chica, Muraoka, and Pierick. Are there any Members voting with reservations? Any noes? Seeing none. Measure passes.

Thank you. My staff will be posting our Tuesday agendas shortly some time today, so stay tuned for that. But until then, you folks have a good weekend.