Transportation

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 537: RELATING TO TWO-WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLES.

Repeals the exception for when a person is not required to wear a safety helmet when operating a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company. Requires operators and passengers of motorcycles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps while operating two-wheeled motorized vehicles on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State. Requires all renters or lessees of an electric foot scooter to wear a safety helmet regardless of their age. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires helmets for two-wheeled vehicles on public roads, enhancing transportation safety standards per bill's explicit safety mandates.90% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 227: RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.

HB 227 creates new fines for drivers operating cars or mopeds without a current vehicle safety inspection certificate. It directly affects drivers who operate vehicles without a valid safety inspection, increasing penalties for this violation. The bill adds specific additional fines to the existing penalty structure for operating un-inspected vehicles. This law would take effect on July 1, 3000 (as stated in the bill).

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases penalties for operating vehicles without safety inspections, directly enhancing vehicle safety standards per title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 733: RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARKING.

Removes the exemption that allowed owners of multiple parking facilities within the State to designate and electrify fewer parking spaces than required in one or more of the properties if the requirement for the total number of aggregate spaces on all of their owned properties was met. Authorizes the counties to adopt ordinances to regulate electric vehicle charging systems for places of public accommodation with fewer than one hundred parking spaces. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates increased EV parking electrification and enables local EV charging regulations, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure for transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates EV charging infrastructure in parking facilities, promoting sustainable transportation adoption by requiring electrified spaces and authorizing county regulations for EV charging systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2226: RELATING TO MOTORCYCLES.

SB 2226 requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear a safety helmet while riding. The bill directly affects anyone who operates or rides on a motorcycle in the state. Its key provision mandates helmet use for all riders without exception, replacing any existing exemptions. This policy change aims to establish a uniform safety standard for motorcycle transportation. The bill is currently in committee referral following its initial introduction.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates universal helmet use for motorcycle safety, directly enhancing transportation safety standards per bill's intent to establish a uniform safety requirement.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 220: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION FINANCING.

Authorizes a county that has adopted a surcharge to state tax to extend the surcharge to 12/31/2056. Extends the end date of the one percent Transient Accommodation Tax increase to 12/31/2056. Requires the State Auditor to conduct an audit and annual review of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation until 12/31/2056. Requires the Comptroller to certify the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's invoices for capital costs until 12/31/2056.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends transportation tax surcharges and mandates fiscal audits until 2056, ensuring sustained funding and oversight for transportation projects.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends transportation financing mechanisms (surcharge, taxes) and mandates ongoing funding/audits for Honolulu's rapid transit authority (HART) until 2056, directly advancing public transit infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Fees & Licensing Transportation Funding

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 1995: RELATING TO PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

HB 1995 expands eligibility for disabled parking permits to include individuals who are blind or deaf, who were previously excluded under existing rules. The bill directly affects people with these specific disabilities by allowing them to apply for and receive the same parking permits as those with other mobility-related disabilities. Key provisions require state agencies to process applications for these permits without additional medical certification beyond what is required for other disability categories. This change modifies the current eligibility criteria to ensure consistent access to parking accommodations for all qualifying individuals. The bill is currently in committee referral after its initial introduction.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands disabled parking permit eligibility to blind/deaf individuals, enhancing transportation accessibility and safety per topic description.95% confidence

Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 1709: RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Transfers the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Water Carrier Act from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Transportation. Makes conforming amendments. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationTransfers water carrier regulation to DOT and appropriates funds, strengthening transportation infrastructure management under DOT oversight.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 188: RELATING TO A STATE PERMITTING OFFICE.

Establishes the State Permitting Office within the Department of Transportation to process building and infrastructure permits for construction of state-owned buildings, state roads and highways, and other construction on state lands. Appropriates moneys.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates moneys to establish State Permitting Office within DOT, directly funding state infrastructure permitting operations.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEstablishes DOT-permitting office for state roads/highways infrastructure, appropriates funds to streamline approvals for transportation projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Roads & Highways

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1157: RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Allows the counties to amend district boundaries involving land areas greater than fifteen acres without appearing before the Land Use Commission if the affected lands are included in the County General Plan or County Development Plan. Requests the LUC to update the digital state land use district maps and to encourage transit-oriented development that preserves the character of the State's rural areas.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEncourages transit-oriented development (TOD), promoting public transit integration and sustainable transportation infrastructure through land use planning.85% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2483: RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FORTY-FIFTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

HB 2483 authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvement projects within the 45th Representative District. This bill directly affects residents and local projects in that district by providing dedicated funding for infrastructure upgrades. The key mechanism is the creation of a funding source through bond issuance, with allocated money specifically designated for district capital projects. The bill does not specify particular projects but enables future spending on improvements like roads or public facilities within the 45th District.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes bond issuance and appropriates funds for district capital projects, directly increasing budget allocation for infrastructure within the 45th District.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds infrastructure upgrades via bonds for district capital projects, directly supporting transportation infrastructure improvements as CIP is standard for road/transit projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Debt & Bonds State Budget

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