SB2400 • 2026

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: INOUYE
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation; Hawaii Water Carrier Act; Wing-in-ground Craft; Seagliders; Passengers; Exemption Exempts persons operating wing-in-ground craft engaged in the transportation of passengers from the application of the Hawaii Water Carrier Act.
Defines "wing‑in‑ground craft".
(CD1)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2400 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2400 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2400 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2400 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2400 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2400 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2400 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2400 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2400 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Belatti, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Hartsfield, Iwamoto, Muraoka, Perruso, Poepoe, Shimizu voting no (11) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 163-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 163-26).
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Matayoshi, Miyake; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Keohokalole, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 2:30PM in Conference Room 411.
2026-05-01 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 329.
2026-04-30 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 05-01-26 9:31AM; Conference Room 329.
2026-04-30 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 877).
2026-04-29 H
House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Matayoshi, Miyake Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
2026-04-29 H
Re-referred to TRN, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 37
2026-04-20 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).
2026-04-20 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Inouye Chair; Keohokalole Co-Chair; Elefante, Kanuha.
2026-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).
2026-04-07 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-07 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 475).
2026-04-06 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Hartsfield, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Poepoe, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Cochran, Olds, Quinlan excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1804-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-01 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 04-01-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-30 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Gedeon, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Poepoe voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1471-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-03-24 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica; Ayes with reservations: none; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; and Excused: none.
2026-03-19 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to TRN, CPC, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 230) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2914) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2026-02-25 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.
2026-02-20 S
The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-02-18 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to CPN.
2026-02-18 S
Reported from TRS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2324) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to CPN.
2026-02-12 S
The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in TRS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on TRS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-26 3:01PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to TRS, CPN.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-20 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation; Hawaii Water Carrier Act; Wing-in-ground Craft; Seagliders; Passengers; Exemption
Exempts persons operating wing-in-ground craft engaged in the transportation of passengers from the application of the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Defines "wing‑in‑ground craft". (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2400

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2400

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to transportation
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that wing-in-ground craft, which are often referred to as
"seagliders," are an emerging interisland mode of
transportation.
�
These vessels utilize wing-in-ground-effect
technology to provide a novel, zero-emission, inexpensive, and highly efficient
mode of transportation.
�
Wing-in-ground
craft operate on water while in harbors, leverage hydrofoils while transiting,
and fly within a wingspan's length above the water, enabling rapid
transportation between ports.

����
The legislature further finds that because
wing-in-ground craft operators aim to directly complement existing air travel
by providing statewide interisland transportation, subjecting these operators
to the public utilities commission's water carrier regulations would impose
undue oversight and increase costs without improving public safety or consumer
protection.
�
In particular, the
legislature notes that the United States Coast Guard oversees the public safety
and consumer protection aspects of wing-in-ground craft.

����
The legislature further finds that exempting
wing-in-ground craft from public utilities commission jurisdiction will benefit
the State by:

����
(1)
�
Supporting
Hawaii's statutory decarbonization goals, including:

���������
(A)
�
Section
225P-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which establishes statewide emissions
reduction targets for the years 2030 and 2045;

���������
(B)
�
Section
225P-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which establishes as a goal for the State the decarbonization
of the transportation sector and state agency fleets; and

���������
(C)
�
Section
225P-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which establishes a statewide goal of zero
emissions across all transportation modes, including ground transportation and
sea and air interisland transportation.

���������
In light of these goals, the Hawaii
state energy office, in its "pathways to decarbonization" report to
the legislature pursuant to Act 238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, identified
the use of wing-in-ground craft as a strategic decarbonization measure.
�
The use of wing-in-ground craft also helps to
fulfill the requirements of the Navahine settlement agreement between the
Hawaii Department of Transportation and the youth plaintiffs;

����
(2)
�
Enhancing
connectivity for underserved communities, including improving healthcare access
between the Hawaiian islands and the hospitals and medical facilities on Oahu
by providing an affordable transportation option;

����
(3)
�
Bolstering
state resiliency efforts, including emergency response, humanitarian rescue,
and food security, by providing rapid transportation to otherwise inaccessible areas
of need;

����
(4)
�
Stimulating
education and workforce development opportunities in the green economy as the
market for wing-in-ground craft travel grows;

����
(5)
�
Attracting
sustainable infrastructure investment; and

����
(6)
�
Enhancing
the State's economy through job creation in the green economy.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
exempt
persons operating wing-in-ground craft from the application of the Hawaii Water
Carriers Act.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Section 271G-5, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted
and to read as follows:

����
"
"Wing-in-ground
craft" means a vessel that is capable of operating completely above the
surface of water on a dynamic air cushion created by the aerodynamic lift
caused by the ground effect between the vessel and the water's surface.
"

����
SECTION

3
.
�
Section 271G-6,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�271G
-
6
�
Exemptions, generally.
�
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
chapter, its contents shall not apply to:

����
(1)
�
Persons transporting their own property
where the transportation is in furtherance of a primary business purpose or
enterprise of that person except where the transportation is undertaken by a
water carrier to evade the regulatory purposes of this chapter;

����
(2)
�
Nonprofit agricultural cooperative
associations to the extent that they engage in the transportation of their own
property or the property of their members;

����
(3)
�
Persons engaged in the transportation
over water of passengers or property for compensation, other than
transportation referred to in the definition of "water carrier" or
"common carrier by water" in section 271G‑5 under continuing
contracts with one person or a limited number of persons for the furnishing of
transportation services:

���������
(A)
�
Through the assignment of vessels for a
continuing period of time to the exclusive use of each person served; or

���������
(B)
�
Designed to meet the distinct need of
each individual customer;

����
(4)
�
Persons transporting their own property
or employees where the transportation is in furtherance of a business or
enterprise of fishing or taking of fish for profit or gain as a means of
livelihood; [
or
]

����
(5)
�
Persons engaged in the business of
transporting persons for sightseeing and other recreational activities[
.
]
;
or

����
(6)
�
Persons operating wing-in-ground
craft.
"

����
SECTION 4.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Transportation;
Hawaii Water Carriers Act; Wing-in-Ground Craft; Seagliders; Exemption

Description:

Exempts
persons operating wing-in-ground craft from the application of the Hawaii Water
Carriers Act.
�
Defines "wing‑in‑ground
craft."

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.