STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3052

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3152

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3152, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 statutes.

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

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that clearly differentiating between harbors and commercial ports in the Hawaii Revised Statutes will provide greater clarity in the application of laws and regulations to each type of facility. The updated nomenclature in this measure also more accurately reflects the nature and scope of operations under the Department of Transportation's purview, aligns with maritime industry terminology, and better represents the economic importance of these facilities to the State. This measure will strengthen the State's maritime governance framework by providing clarity, consistency, and better alignment with modern port administration practices.

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3152, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3152, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair