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SB2993
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2993
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:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that ground
transportation makes up thirty-eight per cent of transportation emissions in
the State and light-duty vehicles make up eighty-five per cent of those
emissions.
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The legislature recognizes
that reducing vehicle miles traveled by commuters will be a key component to
meeting the State's decarbonization goals and legal requirements outlined in
the
Navahine F. v. Hawaii Department of Transportation
, which can be
achieved by promoting the use of public transit.
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The legislature further finds that
state employees have limited commuter benefits.
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In 2024, the house of representatives adopted
House Resolution No. 191, Regular Session of 2024, which urged the department
of accounting and general services and department of human resources
development to evaluate subsidizing public transit for public employees.
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Currently, the only transportation benefit the
State offers is a pre-tax deduction of a state employee's paycheck to purchase
a transit pass or pay for parking as allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.
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The State indirectly subsidizes employee
parking stalls in downtown Honolulu on average between $130 to $238 a month,
and provides no subsidy for employees using public transit, carpooling,
walking, biking, and other modes of transportation that reduce transportation
emissions.
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The legislature also finds that o
pting
for public transit and active modes of transportation over private vehicles for
commutes can help employees save money on fuel, insurance, parking, and vehicle
maintenance costs, which can also help reduce the cost of living.
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Additionally, active modes of transportation
can enhance quality of life, health, and wellbeing through physical activity.
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The legislature also finds that
state employee focus groups conducted in July and August of 2024 by the Oahu
metropolitan planning organization revealed that fifty-four per cent of
respondents would ride public transit to work if public transit passes were
fully subsidized or discounted and forty-eight per cent of respondents stated
they would walk, ride a bike, or scooter to work with a financial incentive.
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The legislature notes that other
jurisdictions such as Redmond, Washington and Nashville, Tennessee have
successfully implemented free public transportation options for government
employees.
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These jurisdictions have also
reported increased employee retention and decreased tardiness or absences upon
participating in the commuter benefits program.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to require and appropriate funds for the department of human resources
development to offer fully subsidized transit passes for all state employees.
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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:
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"
�76-
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Subsidized public transit passes; state
employees.
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The department of human resources
development shall, in coordination with each county's transportation agency or
department, offer fully subsidized public transit passes as a benefit option
for all state employees.
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The public
transit passes shall be integrated into employee badges in accordance with
existing transit pass badging programs.
"
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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to offer fully subsidized
public transit passes as a benefit option for all state employees.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of human resources development
for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
4.
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New statutory material is
underscored.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DHRD;
Public Transit Passes; State Employees
Description:
Requires
and appropriates funds for the Department of Human Resources Development to
offer fully subsidized public transit passes for state employees.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.