STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1037-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2454

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program;

(2) Amend the purposes for how the Department of Transportation may expend, or transfer to the counties, funds from the Safe Routes to School Special Fund; and

(3) Establish deadlines by when counties must obligate or expend funds allocated from the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from AARP Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaiʻi Bicycling League; and Ulupono Initiative. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu; and Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute.

As this bill moves through the legislative process, your Committee requests further consideration of:

(1) The Department of Transportation's comments, which endorse the measure as a way to streamline and strengthen the Safe Routes to School Program's administration and efficiency while recommending an amendment to ensure effective coordination with the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee; and

(2) Ulupono Initiative's comments, which express concern that this measure could weaken the Program's community-driven governance structure and transparent oversight, which were established under Act 244, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair