STAND. COM. REP. NO. 439-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1958

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. 1958 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish, for a city with a population greater than three hundred thousand, enforcement procedures to prevent domiciling or storing of personal property on public property within a bus stop area if a person does not intend to use the public transportation services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii continues to face a growing homelessness crisis, with increasing numbers of individuals residing in public spaces, including public transit areas. The use of bus stops for domiciling or long-term storage of personal property can obstruct access to essential transportation infrastructure, displacing transit riders and creating safety hazards for passengers, particularly kupuna, keiki, and persons with disabilities. By ensuring that bus stop areas remain clear and accessible, this measure seeks to balance public safety and accessibility concerns with compassionate and structured enforcement practices.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the enforcement procedures proposed by this measure shall apply to a county, rather than a city, with a population greater than three hundred thousand;

(2) Authorizing state law enforcement officers to enforce enforcement procedures;

(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.

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. 1958, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1958, 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