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HB 1879 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

Summary
Establishes within the Department of Transportation a subsidized youth transit program for youth who are residents of the State, to be coordinated with the counties. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules, expand eligibility, and consult with the Department of Education on best practices, under certain conditions. Establishes the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires biannual evaluations of the new program and Special Fund. Allocates funds from the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Appropriates funds into and out of the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates tax revenues (environmental response, energy, food security) to fund a new public transit program special fund, directly advancing budgetary appropriations for public services.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates environmental response tax to youth transit program, reducing emissions by promoting public transit use.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates environmental/energy tax funds to establish fare-free youth transit program, expanding public transit access and funding within DOT.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1879_HD1 → HB1879_HD2 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to expand eligibility for the subsidized youth transit program to include all residents, guardians, and youth accompanying aides, with a prioritization tier for those with financial/social needs or disabilities. The definition of 'youth' was updated to specifically include high school seniors, and a new definition for 'youth accompanying aide' was added to clarify that one aide can accompany one youth with disabilities. The effective date for these new provisions was added to the timeline.
Scope change
The program's scope expanded from a needs-based priority system to a universal access model with a tiered priority list for limited funding years.
ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility was broadened from prioritizing youth with demonstrated need to providing services to all youth residents, guardians, and youth accompanying aides, with a specific priority tier for those with financial/social needs or disabilities when funds are insufficient.

DEFINITION

New definitions were created for 'Program' and 'Youth accompanying aide', and the definition of 'Youth' was updated to explicitly include high school seniors.

REQUIREMENT

A new rule was added stating that no more than one youth accompanying aide may receive a subsidized fare for each youth with disabilities per ride.

TIMELINE

Section 3 was added to the list of sections that take effect on July 1, 2026, alongside sections 5 and 6.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 528-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Amato, Hartsfield.
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 128-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSH.
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Cochran, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to TRN, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 2
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Pending introduction.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sean Quinlan
Sean Quinlan
DDemocratic
HI
47