STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1892-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 96

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 96 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONSIDER MOVING TO A DEMERIT POINTS-BASED DRIVER'S LICENSING SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Transportation to adopt a demerit points-based driver's license system.

Your committee received testimony in support from the Department of Transportation. Your committee also received testimony with comments from Aloha Independent Living Hawaii and the Department of Customer Services from the City and County of Honolulu. Your committee received testimony in opposition from one individual.

Your Committee finds that demerit point systems are used in forty states and the District of Columbia and have been shown to improve driver behavior by providing continuous consequences to traffic violations while also providing opportunities for drivers to correct dangerous behaviors and incentivize driver education. Your Committee believes that transitioning to a demerit point system will encourage drivers to abide by traffic safety regulations and bring frequent violators into compliance through reeducation. 

Your committee has amended this measure by:

1. Based on the concerns of the City and County of Honolulu, adding in another clause to read, "Be It Resolved that the Hawaii State Department of Transportation is requested to collaborate with county agencies responsible for driver licensing issuance and implementation to develop and provide clear, timely, and comprehensive guidance, including but not limited to guidance on funding, staffing, information technology system modifications, administrative procedures, staff training, and public communication needs, and to work cooperatively with these agencies to establish a phased and coordinated implementation approach that allows sufficient time for implementing agencies to evaluate and address operational requirements, ensure accurate integration into statewide driver record systems, and promote consistent application across all jurisdictions."

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. 96, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 96, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair