STAND. COM. REP. NO. 88-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2334

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2334 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects, as well as railroad, public transportation, or multimodal projects, within the State; and

(2) Provide a limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual.

Your Committee finds that lengthy and duplicative environmental review processes can significantly delay the delivery of critical transportation projects, increasing costs and hindering the timely improvement of highways, transit systems, and multimodal infrastructure. Allowing the Department of Transportation to assume certain responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, while still maintaining rigorous environmental standards, will improve coordination, accountability, and efficiency in project delivery without diminishing environmental protections.

Your Committee notes that, according to the Department of Transportation's testimony, participation in the National Environmental Policy Act Assignment Program will allow for expeditious construction and planning of transportation infrastructure projects in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2334, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2334, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair