Transportation committee adopts HD1 for several bills, defers some measures; decision summary

The House Committee on Transportation took decision-making action on multiple bills on Feb. 11, adopting first-draft (HD1) amendments and advancing measures to the next legislative stage. Several items were amended for clarity and scope; two measures were deferred for further work.

Key actions taken at the committee’s decision-making session included:

- HB1154 (central services assessments): The committee adopted HD1 with technical amendments and set a drafting placeholder effective date of July 1, 3000. The transcript records the chair and vice chair voting “aye,” with Representatives Epsilon, Kitagawa, LaChica, Miyake and Moroeka also recorded as “aye.” Representatives Cochran and Pierrick were listed as excused for this vote. The chair announced the recommendation adopted.

- HB1164 (highway revenue bonds): The committee adopted HD1 and technical amendments; the chair noted outstanding issues between the Department of Budget and Finance and the Department of Transportation and said DOT will continue to work with the finance committee. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments; individual roll-call on the record was not fully enumerated in the transcript.

- HB1286 (pedestrian safety): The committee adopted HD1 with amendments and included a note that Ulupono’s testimony raised concerns about rural communities where state highways run through town centers without sidewalks. Representative Benson registered a reservation to note those concerns; the committee nonetheless advanced the bill with amendments and recorded adoption of the chair’s recommendation.

- HB1162 (motorcycle instruction permits): The committee adopted HD1 requiring that, starting July 1, 2026, applicants for a motorcycle instruction permit must successfully complete an approved basic motorcycle rider course before becoming eligible for a permit. The committee advanced the measure with technical amendments.

- HB387 (highway safety — negligent injury): The committee adopted HD1 and technical amendments. The Honolulu prosecuting attorney’s office testified in support, arguing that injuries negligently caused by intoxicated drivers are not currently punished adequately in state criminal law; the Office of the Public Defender registered opposition. The committee acknowledged the public defender’s concerns in the committee report and advanced the bill with amendments.

Measures deferred or otherwise noted:

- HB1084 (lowering BAC to 0.05) was deferred in committee while HB1387 was moved as the vehicle for the BAC change (see separate article on HB1387). The committee chair explained the two bills were duplicative and the HD1 drafting on HB1387 addressed concerns raised about HB1084.

- HB668 (motor vehicle insurance) was deferred indefinitely for further work; the chair said staff would continue to coordinate with the Office of the Public Defender and prosecutors to seek consensus on statutory changes and insurance access for uninsured drivers.

For several items, the committee used a drafting placeholder effective date of July 1, 3000; the chair explained this is a technical device used during drafting and that actual effective dates will be set later. The committee adopted technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style across multiple measures and asked relevant state agencies to continue coordination where outstanding issues were identified.

The committee adjourned after taking action on the agenda and several extra items.