STAND. COM. REP. NO. 259

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1481

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 1481 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTION PERMITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to, starting on July 1, 2026, require all applicants for a motorcycle instruction permit to successfully complete a basic motorcycle rider course approved by the Department of Transportation before becoming eligible for the permit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Division of Motor Vehicle Registration of the Department of Customer Services for the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that between 2019 and 2023, there were one hundred twenty-three motorcycle fatalities on Hawaii's roadways, with sixty-three involving individuals without a motorcycle license. Your Committee further finds that requiring all applicants seeking a motorcycle instruction permit to complete a basic motorcycle rider course would improve public safety throughout the State. Accordingly, this measure mandates completion of a basic rider course prior to receiving a motorcycle instruction permit with the goal of increasing traffic safety for motorcycle riders and all other roadway users.

Your Committee notes the comments brought forth by the Department of Transportation concerning exemptions for instructional purposes. Your Committee finds that is proper to allow for a potential rider to use a motorcycle, motor scooter, or moped without a license while completing the required practical rider skills portion of the training course.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to allow a person to operate a motorcycle, motor scooter, or moped on an enclosed certified training course without a valid temporary instruction permit;

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

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1481, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1481, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair