Hawaii House Bill HR119

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/18/26
• Report Pass: 4/2/26
• Refer: 4/2/26
• Report Pass: 4/9/26
• Passed: 4/9/26

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Transportation And Department Of Law Enforcement To Collaborate To Establish A State Highway Police Force.

Summary

H.R. 119 is a House Resolution that requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation and the Department of Law Enforcement to work together to establish a state highway police force. The resolution is framed as a response to rising roadway danger in Hawaii, citing increased pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities in 2025, especially on Oahu, and a total of 129 roadway deaths statewide, the highest since 2007. It argues that a dedicated highway police force could improve traffic safety by combining transportation planning with law enforcement authority, and by providing specialized response to highway crashes and congestion. The resolution does not itself create a new agency or change statutory law; instead, it expresses the Legislature’s preference and asks two executive departments to collaborate on a proposal. Its practical impact would be to encourage study, coordination, and potentially future administrative or legislative action toward a state-level highway policing function. If implemented later, it could affect how traffic enforcement is divided between county police departments and state agencies, particularly on state highways and major roadways.

Impact

Because HR 119 is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not directly amend Hawaii statutes, appropriate funds, or establish a police force by law. Its legal effect is advisory and political: it formally requests the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to collaborate on creating a state highway police force and transmits that request to the agency directors. Any actual change to enforcement authority, agency structure, staffing, or jurisdiction would require additional legislation or administrative action. The resolution could nonetheless influence future policy affecting county police responsibilities, highway incident response, and statewide traffic safety enforcement.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of a more aggressive state response to traffic safety problems. The bill’s findings emphasize urgency, citing a sharp rise in fatalities and describing the roads as increasingly dangerous. Although there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the text itself presents a clear pro-enforcement, pro-coordination stance and suggests that a state highway police force would be a beneficial supplement to county police efforts.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the shift in traffic enforcement from county police departments toward a new state-level highway police force. Supporters would likely view this as a way to improve coordination, speed crash clearance, and address statewide safety concerns, while opponents may question whether a new force is necessary, whether it duplicates existing county responsibilities, and how it would be funded and staffed. There may also be concerns about jurisdiction, interagency authority, and whether transportation safety problems are better addressed through infrastructure improvements, enforcement, or both.