STAND. COM. REP. NO. 59-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1688

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1688 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Subject U-drive motor vehicles to the same motor vehicle registration fees as other motor vehicles; and

(2) Authorize the counties to use certain motor vehicle registration fees to mitigate and address the impacts of tourism-related traffic congestion.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Mayor of the County of Kaua‘i, Mayor of the County of Maui, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, County of Kaua‘i Department of Finance, Enterprise Holdings, and Hertz. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that traffic congestion is a serious problem that negatively affects the quality of life for residents and visitors in Hawaii. Congestion on the State's roadways continues to increase, forcing people to spend more time sitting in vehicles and less time being productive at work or enjoying time with families and friends. Raising the registration fee for U-drive motor vehicles, or rental motor vehicles, will create parity between U-drive vehicles and all other motor vehicles and help the counties address the impacts of tourism congestion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1688 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair