Hawaii Senate Bill SB1485

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 1/27/25

Caption

Relating To Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program.

Summary

SB1485 appropriates $5 million from the state highway fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to be deposited into the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund, and then appropriates $5 million from that special fund for the Department of Transportation to establish and maintain the automated speed enforcement systems program. The bill is tied to the special fund created by Act 112 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2024), indicating it is a funding measure intended to support implementation of the state’s automated speed enforcement initiative. The bill also provides that the appropriation will not lapse at the end of the fiscal year, but any unexpended and unencumbered balance remaining as of June 30, 2029, will revert to the state highway fund. If enacted, the measure would take effect on July 1, 2025, and would primarily affect the Department of Transportation, the state highway fund, and the newly established special fund for speed enforcement systems.

Impact

SB1485 would increase and direct state transportation-related funding by moving $5 million from the state highway fund into the automated speed enforcement systems program special fund and authorizing DOT to spend those funds on program setup and maintenance. It does not create the enforcement program itself, but it supplies the operating and implementation money for a program already established in prior law, and it extends the availability of the appropriation beyond a single fiscal year until the 2029 lapse date.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and implementation-focused, aimed at funding a traffic safety enforcement program rather than changing substantive criminal or traffic penalties.

Contention

The main likely point of contention is the use of state highway fund dollars for automated speed enforcement, since opponents of camera-based enforcement often raise concerns about privacy, fairness, revenue generation, and whether such systems are primarily safety tools or citation-producing mechanisms. Supporters would likely emphasize traffic safety, speed reduction, and program implementation needs. Because no hearing testimony or votes are included, the specific positions of legislators, agencies, or the public cannot be confirmed from the record provided.