STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1298

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1162

H.D. 2

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 H.B. No. 1162, H.D. 2, 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:

(1) 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; and

(2) Clarify that a person shall not operate a motor vehicle in connection with the driving training course without a valid temporary instruction permit unless it is a motorcycle that is being used for training purposes on an enclosed state certified training range.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.

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

Your Committee finds that according to crash data provided by the Department of Transportation, there were one hundred thirty-six motorcycle related fatalities between 2020 and 2024. Your Committee further finds that of those fatalities, forty-six were reported as not having a valid motorcycle endorsement. Your Committee also finds that basic rider courses equip motorcyclists with the requisite skills and knowledge to ride safely in the State. Accordingly, this measure promotes road safety for motorcycle riders and other road users by ensuring that motorcycle riders complete a motorcycle rider course approved by the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee notes the concern raised by the Division of Motor Vehicle Registration of the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu regarding time necessitated for the Division of Motor Vehicle Registration to implement the new motorcycle instruction permit processes and requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring any basic motorcycle rider course to be approved by the Division of Motor Vehicle Registration of the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu and Department of Transportation; and

(2) 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 H.B. No. 1162, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1162, H.D. 2, 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