STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1874-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 127

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 127 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A STATE HIGHWAY POLICE FORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a State Highway Police Force informed by collaboration between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Law Enforcement.

Your Committee has received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation. Your Committee received testimony with comments on this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association. Your Committee has received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that having a dedicated policing force on the state highway would provide for a quicker and more consistent response to traffic violations and emergencies, and that a State Highway Police Force would facilitate the creation of more specialized procedures for responding to these incidents. Your Committee believes that establishing this force would alleviate the county police departments from their duties of policing state highways and allow them more bandwidth in other areas.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 127 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair