STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2451

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2527

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. 2527 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that state and county firefighters exempt from commercial driver licensure be subject to an alcohol and substance abuse policy for employees that is equivalent to, or exceeds the provisions of, the safety and health standards established by the United States Department of Transportation for holders of commercial driver's licenses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Human Resources Development, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi, Office of the Mayor of the County of Kauaʻi, and Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 1463, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that existing law does not account for a critical gap in safety oversight for individuals operating commercial motor vehicles in emergency response roles. Currently, state and county firefighters are exempt from commercial driver's license requirements and are therefore also exempt from the associated controlled substance and alcohol testing requirements applied to other operators with a commercial driver's license. Because of their roles as first responders, your Committee believes that state and county firefighters should be subject to a strict alcohol and substance abuse policy. This measure will strengthen public safety and ensure accountability across all commercial vehicle operators, regardless of their employment or exemption status.

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. 2527 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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