STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1479-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2812

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. 2812, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require:

(1) Testing of driver's license applicants on the dangers that large motor vehicles present to pedestrians and bicyclists; and

(2) Persons who commit the offense of excessive speeding or habitually driving while intoxicated to pass the driver's license examination for each offense.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that protecting the public on Hawaii's roadways requires drivers to understand the consequences of dangerous driving and the heightened risks that certain vehicles present to more vulnerable roadway users. Larger vehicles, such as trucks and sport utility vehicles, can cause more severe harm to pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly in crashes involving visibility limitations or higher points of impact.

Your Committee further finds that excessive speeding is a serious offense that demonstrates unsafe driving behavior and warrants additional measures to reinforce driver competency and awareness.

This measure further strengthens traffic safety by expanding driver's license examination requirements to include knowledge of the dangers large vehicles pose to pedestrians and bicyclists and requiring certain offenders to successfully pass a driver's license examination before resuming lawful driving privileges.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that drivers convicted of driving at excessive speeds shall be required to pass a driver's license examination only if and when those drivers apply for a new driver's license;

(2) Deleting provisions that would have required persons who commit the offense of habitually driving while intoxicated to pass the driver's license examination for each offense;

(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. 2812, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2812, 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