SB 927 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Summary

Establishes the Air Noise and Safety Task Force. Establishes the Airports Advisory Council. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to adopt administrative rules to designate an airport security area within an airport property. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB927_SD1_PROPOSED → SB927_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly restructured from a single focus on emergency charter air services to a comprehensive transportation bill establishing multiple new entities and positions. The original emergency air service contract provision was removed entirely, while new sections were added to create an Air Noise and Safety Task Force, an Airports Advisory Council, and five new full-time positions within the Department of Transportation.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single emergency air transportation contract to include noise/safety oversight, airport advisory functions, and new staffing positions across multiple transportation areas.

REQUIREMENT

Removed Section 1 establishing a contract for emergency charter air services with a qualified provider, including requirements for 24-hour response time and minimum five monthly flights.

Added Section 2 establishing an Air Noise and Safety Task Force within the Department of Transportation to address helicopter activity complaints and safety issues.

Added Section 3 and 4 establishing an Airports Advisory Council to coordinate stakeholders and develop contingency plans for airport disruptions.

FISCAL

Added Section 7 appropriating funds for five new full-time positions: chief airports planner, chief airports architect, chief landscape architect, planning expert, and branding/marketing expert.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from the original proposal to July 1, 2050 (Section 8).

SB927 → SB927_SD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill was converted from a standard Senate bill format to a Senate Draft 1 (SD1) version, which includes substantive policy additions. The original bill only contained general amendments, while the new version adds specific provisions for emergency air charter contracts, establishes an air noise and safety task force, creates an airports advisory council, designates airport security areas, and creates five new full-time positions within the Department of Transportation.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly from general transportation amendments to include specific emergency air charter services, new advisory bodies, security area designations, and new staff positions.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the Air Carrier Commission to contract with a qualified charter air service provider for emergency air transportation when no other service is available, with specific service requirements including 24-hour response time and minimum five flights per month.

Established a new Air Noise and Safety Task Force within the Department of Transportation to collect complaints, identify issues, and make recommendations on aircraft noise and safety.

Created a new Airports Advisory Council to coordinate stakeholders and develop contingency plans for airport disruptions and emergencies.

Authorized the Department of Transportation to designate airport security areas with restricted public access and specific rules.

Created five new full-time positions within the Department of Transportation: chief airports planner, chief airports architect, chief landscape architect, planning expert, and branding and marketing expert.

FISCAL

Added appropriations for the new Air Noise and Safety Task Force and Airports Advisory Council, though specific dollar amounts remain blank for legislative determination.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from 'upon approval' to a specific date of July 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Converted document format from standard Senate bill to SD1 draft format with updated metadata and structure.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 637) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 2) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 3:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to TCA, WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and recommitted to TCA.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 117) as amended (SD 1), with recommendation of recommittal to TCA.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS and be recommitted. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA will hold a public decision making on 02-06-25 3:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors