CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 23-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3154

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3154, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects, as well as railroad, public transportation, or multimodal projects within the State, allowing streamlined environmental reviews; and

(2) Provide a limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements.

Your Committee on Conference finds that authorizing the Department of Transportation to assume federal environmental review responsibilities and adopt relevant federal environmental standards as state standards will provide the Department with greater control over project timelines and reduce reliance on federal agencies. By providing the Department of Transportation with more autonomy, this measure will accelerate the development of transportation infrastructure.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3154, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3154, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DARIUS KILA Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Chair
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Co-Chair
____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair