STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2136

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2463

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2463 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to lower the blood alcohol content threshold for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Hina Mauka, Big Island Substance Abuse Council, SparksInitiative, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, FiA Foundation, Kids and Car Safety, National Safety Council, Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and thirteen individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; Lanikai Brewing Company LLC; Maui Brewing Co.; Big Island Brewhaus; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Kauaʻi Island Brewing Company, LLC; Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association; and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from Kona Brewing Co. and one individual.

Your Committee finds that in most adults, a blood alcohol content of 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or per 210 liters of breath significantly impairs skills including divided attention, braking, tracking, perception, and reaction time. Your Committee further finds that according to a meta-analysis of studies on blood alcohol content reduction, states with a blood alcohol content limit of 0.05 experienced fewer fatal alcohol-related crashes. This measure will separate the acts of drinking and driving to enhance road safety for all users.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 2463, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2463, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair