STAND. COM. REP. NO. 637

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 927

S.D. 2

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. 927, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Air Carrier Commission to enter into a contract with a qualified charter air service provider to secure emergency air transportation services in cases of emergency when no other air service is available;

(2) Establish the Air Noise and Safety Task Force;

(3) Establish the Airports Advisory Council;

(4) Authorize the Department of Transportation to adopt administrative rules to designate an airport security area within an airport property;

(5) Establish positions;

(6) Require a report to the Legislature; and

(7) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments from the Department of Transportation and Airlines Committee of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the State's unique island geography makes air transportation a critical component of transportation infrastructure. However, noise pollution emitted from airport operations is a public safety and health concern, necessitating innovative solutions that ensure safety of travelers, operators, and area residents. Further, expanding airport security measures through increased contingency planning will enhance transparency with local communities. Therefore, this measure seeks additional collaboration from stakeholders to develop a balance between critical airport operations and noise pollution that impacts surrounding communities.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the Air Carrier Commission to enter into a contract with a qualified charter air service provider to secure emergency air transportation services;

(2) Deleting appropriations for the establishment of the Air Noise and Safety Task Force;

(3) Directing the Airports Advisory Council to evaluate design consideration, operations, best practices, and other structures of management such as corporations at other national airports;

(4) Clarifying the membership of the Airports Advisory Council to include a representative from airport related law enforcement;

(5) Inserting legislative findings;

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

(7) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 927, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 927, S.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair