STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1234-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2667

S.D. 1

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 Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2667, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to, in a county with a population of five hundred thousand or more:

(1) Restrict motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction with exemptions; and

(2) Specify penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawaii Transportation Association; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that lane usage by large commercial vehicles and vehicles towing trailers can disrupt traffic flow and create hazardous driving conditions on multi-lane roadways. These vehicles often accelerate more slowly and require greater stopping distances, which can impede faster-moving traffic when traveling in the far left lane. By clarifying restrictions on the use of the far left lane by these vehicles, while allowing reasonable exemptions for passing, turning, and certain buses, this measure improves roadway safety and promotes more predictable traffic movement on heavily traveled highways.

Your Committee further finds that H.B. No. 2026, H.D. 1 (Regular Session of 2026), a substantially similar measure, was previously passed by your Committee.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting the contents of H.B. No. 2026, H.D. 1, a measure that, in a county with a population of five hundred thousand or more:

(A) Prohibits certain commercial vehicles from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction;

(B) Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction with exemptions; and

(C) Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction;

(2) Specifying the fines for first, second, and third or subsequent violations;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2667, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2667, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair