THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
1122
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to transportation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 242, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, amended the name, composition, and duties of the state highway safety and modernization council to make the council an independently led group of expert stakeholders to review the department of transportation's efforts to ensure transparency and provide guidance to the department and legislature to help achieve state transportation goals and outcomes.
However, removing the director of transportation as chair and from the council has inadvertently severed the council's administrative attachment to the department of transportation, leading to a loss of essential administrative support. Additionally, the council has historically faced challenges in achieving quorum due to the absence of explicit authorization for certain members to appoint designees, thereby limiting flexibility in attendance and impeding the council's ability to conduct official business.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Administratively attach the state highway safety and modernization council to the department of transportation;
(2) Clarify the law to allow members to appoint their designees to serve on the council; and
(3) Update membership to facilitate meeting of quorum and legislative intent.
SECTION 2. Section 286-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) There is established the Hawaii highway safety and modernization council[[Struck through: .]] [Underlined: that shall be administratively attached to the department of transportation][Underlined: .] The council shall be chaired on an annually rotating basis by a member appointed by the president of the senate and a member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. In addition to the member appointed by the president of the senate and member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, the following [[Struck through: or their designated representatives]] shall be members of the council: [[Struck through: the]]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: The] chief justice[[Struck through: , the]] [Underlined: or their designee;]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: The] director of transportation[[Struck through: , the]] [Underlined: or their designee;]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: The] attorney general[[Struck through: , the]] [Underlined: or their designee;]
[Underlined: (4)] [Underlined: The] director of health[[Struck through: , the superintendent of education, the executive director of the state public charter school commission, the president of the University of Hawaii, the]] [Underlined: or their designee;]
[Underlined: (5)] [Underlined: The] chairperson of the [[Struck through: University]] [Underlined: university] of Hawaii at Manoa department of urban and regional planning[[Struck through: , the co-chairpersons of]] [Underlined: or their designee;]
[Underlined: (6)] [Underlined: The co-chairpersons of] the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission[[Struck through: , the]] [Underlined: or the co-chairpersons' designees;]
[Underlined: (7)] [Underlined: The] director of the office of planning and sustainable development[[Struck through: , the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office, an additional two]] [Underlined: or their designee;]
[Underlined: (8)] [Underlined: Two additional] members appointed by the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives, respectively[[Struck through: , the chairperson of each of the county highway safety councils established under section 286-6, and not]][Underlined: ;]
[Underlined: (9)] [Underlined: One member from each county agency with jurisdiction over transportation or a designee appointed by each county mayor; and]
[Underlined: (10)] [Underlined: Not] more than [[Struck through: twelve]] [Underlined: ten] other persons who shall be appointed by the governor for a three-year term as follows:
[[Struck through: (1)]] [Underlined: (A)] One member from an organization representing senior citizens;
[[Struck through: (2) One member from an organization representing bicyclists;]
[Struck through: (3)][Struck through: One member from an organization having a focus on micro-mobility;]
[Struck through: (4)][Struck through: One member from an organization having a focus on transportation, planning, and improvement;]
[Struck through: (5)]] [Underlined: (B)] [Underlined: One member from an organization representing active transportation riders;]
[Underlined: (C)] One member from an organization [[Struck through: having a focus on reducing the cost of transportation for]] [Underlined: representing] low-income [Underlined: or other vulnerable communities];
[[Struck through: (6)]] [Underlined: (D)] One member from an organization representing labor and construction;
[[Struck through: (7)]] [Underlined: (E)] One member from an organization representing trucking and cargo carriers;
[[Struck through: (8)]] [Underlined: (F)] One member from an organization having a focus on the electrification of transportation;
[[Struck through: (9)]] [Underlined: (G)] One member from an organization having a focus on expanding trees and foliage and reducing urban heat;
[[Struck through: (10)]] [Underlined: (H)]One member from an organization representing the automobile [[Struck through: manufacturing]] industry; and
[[Struck through: (11)]] [Underlined: (I)]Up to two members on the basis of their interest in transportation safety and related state goals."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DOT; State Highway Safety and Modernization Council; Membership
Description:
Administratively attaches the State Highway Safety and Modernization Council to the Department of Transportation. Allows council members to appoint their designees. Updates membership of the Council.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.