This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to spend $2,000,000 from the safe routes to school fund on pedestrian safety improvements near schools. The funding is intended to install features such as all-way crosswalks and raised intersections at locations where crash data or pedestrian activity indicates a need for enhanced protection. The legislation is named in honor of Tehya Mahelona, a teenager who died in a traffic crash, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes a new statewide program to certify and monitor active intelligent speed assistance systems installed in vehicles, with the goal of ensuring these safety technologies function reliably and securely. It requires the state to select a single vendor to handle the installation and maintenance of these systems while setting strict standards for their accuracy, tamper resistance, and insurance coverage. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that car manufacturers and retailers are generally not liable for accidents caused by these systems unless they intentionally or knowingly cause harm through repairs or updates. The law also allows vehicle lessors and lienholders to charge fees for removing the systems and mandates that vendors be audited annually by the Department of Transportation.
This bill requires Hawaii to add a special designation to the vehicle registration of deaf drivers to alert law enforcement officers during electronic checks. The system will display an international symbol for deafness or a specific code when an officer accesses the vehicle's information, helping to prevent dangerous misunderstandings during traffic stops. To qualify for this designation, a driver must provide certification from a licensed medical professional confirming their hearing loss meets specific decibel thresholds. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and restricts access to this information to authorized personnel only.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor on July 15, 2026, directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to create a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels. The new rules must be adopted by January 1, 2028, and will establish a schedule to lower the carbon intensity of fuels used in the state. The standard aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10% below 2019 levels by 2035 and 50% by 2045. By incentivizing cleaner fuels, the legislation seeks to support economic growth, improve public health, and promote the use of waste materials and renewable energy sources.
This bill establishes the Banyan Drive Community Development District in Hawaii to revitalize the Waiakea peninsula, an area facing issues like blight and poor infrastructure. The legislation creates a special fund to provide consistent financial resources for the state agency responsible for managing the district, ensuring long-term maintenance and improvement. Under the new district, development must prioritize preserving Hawaiian cultural and historic sites while encouraging diverse land uses and private investment. The defined boundaries include lands near Wailoa River, Kalanianaole Street, and Reeds Bay, as well as Moku Ola, or Coconut Island. Ultimately, the act aims to transform the area into a center for cultural enrichment, public facilities, and sustainable economic growth.
This bill, signed into law as Act 259, establishes new safety and labeling rules for electric bicycles in Hawaii to ensure responsible use on public roads. It prohibits unsafe riding behaviors such as stunts, wheelies, or riding in non-standard positions, while allowing the Department of Transportation and counties to define additional reckless actions. The law also mandates that manufacturers and sellers label bikes with their class, speed, and motor wattage, and requires them to inform buyers about legal restrictions regarding helmets, age limits, and road access. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that insurance is not required for road-legal electric bicycles and authorizes the Department of Transportation to impose fines up to $500 for violations of these new regulations.
This bill, signed into law as Act 070, modifies Hawaii's Coastal Zone Management Act to streamline permitting for specific infrastructure projects in counties with populations between 150,000 and 200,000. It creates an exemption from special management area use permit requirements for activities that have already been determined to have no significant environmental impact or are exempt from environmental assessments. The law explicitly excludes routine maintenance of roads, utilities, and drainage, as well as minor repairs and single-family home construction under 7,500 square feet, from the definition of development in these counties. By clarifying these exclusions, the legislation aims to reduce bureaucratic delays for essential public improvements while maintaining regulatory oversight for larger developments.
This bill directs the Governor to inform the Hawaii Legislature that it signed a law allocating state funds for various programs and disaster recovery efforts. The legislation appropriates money to support the operations of the agribusiness development corporation, the Hawaii technology development corporation, and the Hawaii community development authority. Additionally, it establishes funding for mass transit projects and creates a major disaster fund to address emergency response and recovery costs. A key provision allows the Governor to transfer up to $100 million from the disaster fund to other agencies if an imminent threat to public safety arises, provided the Governor notifies the legislature with a detailed justification.
This bill, signed into law as Act 095, expands Hawaii's existing traffic safety rules to protect drivers and passengers stranded near disabled vehicles. It requires motorists approaching a stationary vehicle displaying warning signals, such as hazard lights or cones, to slow down and change lanes if it is safe to do so. The law also clarifies that violating this requirement is a traffic offense, but if an accident occurs resulting in death or injury, the driver faces more serious criminal charges like negligent homicide. Additionally, the bill prohibits people from riding in the open bed of a pickup truck unless there is no seating in the cab and specific safety conditions are met, with exceptions for emergency services and agricultural transport.
This bill establishes a state-run automated speed enforcement program to issue fines for speeding violations on state and county highways in counties with populations of 5,000 or more. Money collected from these fines will be deposited into a special fund dedicated solely to covering the costs of establishing, operating, and maintaining the enforcement systems. The law also creates a separate program for photo red light imaging detectors, which can be implemented in Honolulu after a pilot phase before expanding to other areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that any contracts for operating these systems must be reissued every five years, though existing contracts remain valid until their expiration.
