Transportation Measures Passed at Legislative Session
By: Senator Lorraine Inouye Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation Aloha,
lack of motor vehicle insurance, or noncompliance with a child support order.
On July 10th, the 2020 legislative session adjourned sine die. This session was a particularly difficult one due to COVID-19 and its negative impact on state revenues. However, we were able to come to an agreement on a number of measures that will benefit our communities and the State of Hawai’i. The House and Senate Transportation Committees successfully passed several measures addressing a wide range of transportation related issues including highway safety, driver’s license and identification, autonomous vehicle testing, and water carriers. Below are highlights of several of the measures the Legislature approved. For more information on these bills, you can view the full text, summary, and testimony on the State Capitol website. HB1676 HD1 SD2 establishes the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program and authorizes the State and counties to administer the Program. It also establishes a two-year pilot program in the City and County of Honolulu and requires a report to the legislature. HB2590 HD2 SD2 establishes within HDOT an autonomous vehicle testing pilot program and requires a report to the legislature. HB2750 HD2 SD2 prohibits the imposition of stoppers because of unpaid monetary obligations incurred on or after November 1, 2020. The measure excludes driver’s license suspensions related to excessive speeding,
The measure would also, from date of its approval, allow an individual meeting certain requirement to petition the court to grant a driver’s license or motor vehicle clearance, ahead of the November 1, 2020, prohibition on stoppers. SR125 SD1 requests HDOT and respective Counties to provide at least $15,000,000 in financial assistance to water carriers to enable them to maintain essential routes and lines of service within the State. The measure also requests that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) convene a working group on or before August 1, 2020 to recommend mid- and long-term solutions to ensure continuous water carrier service throughout the State. The Legislature will have to reintroduce and continue working on a number of measures during the next legislative biennium. The measures that were passed by the Legislature have now been enrolled to the Governor, giving him until September 15, 2020, to consider each of these bills and either sign, veto, or allow them to become law without his signature. Mahalo,
Senator Lorraine R. Inouye PAGE 5
