STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3804

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2023

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2023, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Transportation to administer a statewide program for certification of active intelligent speed assistance systems and select a vendor for the installation and maintenance of systems;

(2) Limit the civil liability of motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for active intelligent speed assistance systems;

(3) Make circumventing or tampering with an active intelligent speed assistance system a misdemeanor; and

(4) Allow the Judiciary to impose the installation of active intelligent speed assistance systems as an additional penalty and as part of a license suspension or revocation for repeat offenders of certain traffic violations.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Smart Start LLC, Hawaii Corporate Office; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; AAA Hawaiʻi; Families for Safe Streets; Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Hawaiʻi Bicycling League; and four individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committees find that speeding continues to be a leading contributing factor in the State's traffic fatalities, underscoring the need for targeted interventions focused on high-risk drivers. This measure provides a structured and enforceable framework for installing active intelligent speed assistance systems to reduce excessive speeding and improve roadway safety.

Your Committees note the Office of the Public Defender's request that the language in this measure regarding public highway use be more consistent as the statutory definition of "vehicle" can include non-automobile work vehicles used on private property, farms, and constructions sites, which are beyond the scope of this measure. Thus, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying throughout the measure that the installation and maintenance of active intelligent speed assistance systems shall only be required for vehicles operated by a person on a public highway; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2023, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2023, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair