STAND. COM. REP. NO. 330

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1006

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1006 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COASTAL ROADS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Transportation to engage climate change adaptation measures for the State's low-lying roads and highways.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Department of Transportation, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committees find that the Department of Transportation estimates the cost of at least $15 billion to protect the State's low-lying roads and highways susceptible to climate change-induced coastal erosion and flooding. While the Department of Transportation began assessments of dangers to the nine hundred seventy-one linear miles of affected state roads and highways, there is significant work ahead to ensure all roads are adequately protected. This measure appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to address the impacts of climate change for the State's coastal roads and highways and ensures the Department of Transportation has the resources necessary to engage climate change adaptation.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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 are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1006, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1006, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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