STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1558-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3152

S.D. 2

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. 3152, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PORT ADMINISTRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to rename the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation to the Commercial Ports Division and distinguish between the terms "harbor" and "commercial port" throughout the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Young Brothers, LLC; The Maritime Group; and Hawaiʻi Harbors Users Group. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the State's maritime shipping network depends on a clear and well-defined statutory framework to ensure the efficient management of facilities used for the transport of cargo and passengers. Your Committee further finds that existing law does not consistently distinguish between the physical harbor areas and the commercial port operations administered by the Department of Transportation, which may lead to confusion in the implementation of port-related authorities and responsibilities. This measure improves statutory consistency, clarifies administrative authority, and better reflects the operational role of the State's commercial port system.

Your Committee further finds that H.B. No. 2332, H.D. 1 (Regular Session of 2026), a substantially similar measure, was previously passed by your Committee.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the contents of H.B. No. 2332, H.D. 1, a measure that renames the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation to the Commercial Ports Division, distinguishes between the terms "harbor" and "commercial port" throughout the Hawaii Revised Statutes, and takes effect on July 1, 3000.

Your Committee notes that it made a request to the Department of Transportation to clarify if there are plans for the transfer of small boat harbors and provide that information to your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure.

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. 3152, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3152, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair