STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3050

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3154

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. 3154, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 under title 23 United States Code sections 326 and 327.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Assignment Program is a well-established federal program that allows qualified state departments of transportation to assume certain federal environmental review responsibilities while remaining fully accountable under federal environmental law. By enacting the NEPA Assignment Program in the State, this measure affords the Department of Transportation greater control over project timelines and reduces dependency on federal agencies. This measure therefore enhances the Department's autonomy, which will improve the efficiency of transportation infrastructure development, support economic growth and public safety, and maintain environmental safeguards and public transparency.

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. 3154, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3154, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair