STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3598

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 140

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 140 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO RESEARCH A GREEN HIGHWAY PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation to convene a task force to research a green highway program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and one individual.

Your Committees find that green highways offer numerous benefits, including improved air and water quality, reduced noise pollution, enhanced biodiversity, and increased recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Your Committees further find that the implementation of a green highway program aligns with statewide goals for environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable development, and will contribute to a healthier and more resilient future for the State's communities. Your Committees conclude that the Department of Transportation must take proactive steps to explore and implement initiatives like green highways to achieve the State's climate mitigation goals.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have requested the Department of Transportation to convene a task force to research and develop a green highway program;

(2) Removing the Director of Transportation and the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources from the membership of the task force;

(3) Inserting language requesting the task force to include a representative from the Department of Transportation and Department of Land and Natural Resources and any other representative with subject matter expertise, to be selected and invited by the chairpersons of the task force;

(4) Inserting language requesting the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives to appoint the co-chairpersons of the task force;

(5) Inserting language requesting the task force to:

(A) Develop green highway standards to address urban temperatures, stormwater retention, unsightly infrastructure impacting tourism, and mental health; and

(B) Examine best examples and practices in places that successfully implement green highway infrastructure;

(6) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 140, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 140, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair