STAND. COM. REP. NO. 779-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2138

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2138, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Hilo-Kona Transportation Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Research and Development for the County of Hawaiʻi; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Enterprise Mobility; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

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. 2138, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair