STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2109

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2004

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2004 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OUTDOOR ADVERTISING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase penalties for violations of the State's laws relating to the display of billboards or any outdoor advertising.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiian Electric and The Outdoor Circle.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from Life of the Land.

Your Committee finds that unlawful outdoor advertising and display of billboards may cause issues such as littering, visual distraction, and access and safety issues for utility poles. In particular, utilities require unimpeded access to utility poles to undertake maintenance and any interference may jeopardize safety or disrupt service delivery. This measure acts as a deterrent against unlawful outdoor advertising and display of billboards by increasing penalties. However, your Committee notes that increased enforcement may also be required as a stronger deterrent.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2004, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2004, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair