STAND. COM. REP. NO. 666-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1915

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. 1915 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INJURIOUS MATERIALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit placing, dropping, or leaving injurious materials on highways, lanes, roads, streets, and alleys.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Palehua Townhouse Association; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the intentional placement of nails, screws, glass, and other injurious materials on public roadways poses a serious threat to motorists, pedestrians, and animals. Such conduct not only endangers public safety but also imposes unnecessary financial burdens on residents and disrupts the safe flow of traffic. By expressly prohibiting the placement or leaving of injurious materials on highways and establishing graduated penalties, this measure deters dangerous behavior and promotes safer roadways for all.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting the term "destructive or injurious material" where appropriate to ensure consistency;

(2) Reducing the penalty from a class C felony to a misdemeanor for an offense that was committed within one year of a prior conviction for a motor vehicle or traffic offense and with the intent to cause physical harm or damage to any person, vehicle, or animal;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider clarifying the term "destructive or injurious material".

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. 1915, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1915, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair