STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1068

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 965

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 965, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GREEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote the use of green transportation infrastructure throughout the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the incorporation of green infrastructure into transportation system designs to achieve certain goals and objectives;

(2) Defines "green infrastructure";

(3) Requires the Department of Transportation to endeavor to reduce temperatures and provide for cooler transit by incorporating green infrastructure in transportation system designs; and

(4) Establishes the green transportation infrastructure task force to examine, evaluate, and develop best practices to guide the design, implementation, and maintenance of green transportation infrastructure.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Hawaii; Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; University of Hawaii; Architectural Metal Glassworkers Local Union 1889 AFL-CIO Stabilization Trust Fund; Carpet, Linoleum and Soft Tile Local Union 1926 Market Recovery Trust Fund ; Hawaii Glaziers; Hawaii Tapers Market Recovery Trust Fund; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50; Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization; Painters Industry of Hawaii Labor Management Cooperation Trust Fund; Trees for Honolulu's Future; and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the incorporation of green infrastructure into transportation system designs will help to beautify the State, decrease traffic noise, decrease temperatures, and improve the general well-being of residents of and tourists to the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the dissolution date of the green transportation infrastructure task force to June 30, 2025;

(2) Changing the effective date for sections 2 and 3 of this measure to June 30, 2052, and the effective date of the remaining provisions of this measure to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 965, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 965, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair