The House Committee on Transportation deferred SB 2945 SD2 on March 14 after hearing testimony both supporting a study of ignition interlock device access and cautioning that the Department of Transportation recently completed a competitive procurement.

The measure would create a task force to study national best practices and whether Hawaii should require multiple ignition interlock vendors. Proponents, including Cody Carlson, legislative affairs liaison for Intoxalock, said Hawaii’s single‑vendor structure produces long travel distances to service centers and imposes hardships because devices require monthly calibration. Carlson said Hawaii’s lone vendor maintains 13 service centers statewide, with seven on Oahu and only six across the neighbor islands, leading to “1,400 mile round trips” in some cases under the existing 75‑mile service radius.

Smart Start LLC, the contracted vendor, opposed the bill. Joanne Hamaji Oto, territory operations director for Smart Start LLC, told the committee HDOT has already examined interlock program improvements through its impaired‑driving task force and related technical assistance, arguing a sole vendor can simplify standardized reporting, data management and administration. HDOT testified that the procurement was competitive and that vendors could have raised concerns during that process.

Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen (testimony submitted) and DOT staff said the department conducted a competitive sealed proposal and that changes after contract award could raise procurement and legal issues; the current contract is a five‑year agreement with notice to proceed given recently.

Chair Todd said the committee was inclined to defer the bill because the contract had been recently awarded and a legislative intervention now could interfere with procurement. The committee’s report will note the committee’s view that re‑examination near the end of the contract term would be more appropriate.

Discussion-only items included vendor claims about service‑center distances and references to national averages; the committee did not adopt substantive statutory changes. The formal action recorded in committee minutes was to defer SB 2945 SD2.

Ending: The committee deferred SB 2945 SD2; members said HDOT’s recent contract award and the logistical realities of service centers underlie the decision. The committee suggested reexamining the issue near the contract’s expiration rather than altering a recently executed procurement.