STAND. COM. REP. NO. 271

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1090

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1090 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish requirements for number plates issued for zero-emission, hybrid, and gasoline-powered vehicles beginning January 1, 2025;

(2) Require the continued use of the rainbow number plate design for hybrid and gasoline-powered vehicles;

(3) Require the Department of Transportation to adopt or amend its administrative rules to authorize the use of high-occupancy vehicle lanes by zero-emission vehicles; and

(4) Repeal any provision authorizing the use of high-occupancy vehicle lanes by zero-emission vehicles and electric vehicles on January 1, 2035.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's rainbow license plate design is nearing the end of its current numbering pattern and will need to be changed. Additionally, the proliferation and adoption of electric vehicles is growing exponentially, with many major car manufacturers phasing out gasoline-powered cars completely by 2035. The rapid growth of electric vehicles in the State impacts the temporary electric vehicle license plate numbering scheme. Therefore, the renumbering, replacing, and redesigning of license plates for certain vehicles is necessary to ensure continuity and timely issuance of license plates.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1090 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair