HB 1422 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO MOTOR CARRIERS.

Summary

Exempts community-based organizations engaged in community-based economic development providing transportation services from the Motor Carrier Law under certain circumstances. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics: Freight

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jul 2025

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Signed Jul 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1422_HD2 → HB1422_SD1 · 14 edits

MAJOR

This bill expands exemptions from Hawaii's motor carrier law to include community-based organizations engaged in community-based economic development that provide transportation services. The changes add new exemptions for nonprofit agricultural cooperatives, disabled vehicle towing, mail and newspaper delivery, funeral cars, ambulances, garbage transport, 'sampan buses' in Hilo, and various agricultural supply transport operations. It also adds a new exemption for jitney services and modifies the taxicab definition to include inter-district rural transportation. The bill includes sunset provisions and requires state or county agencies to notify the commission when granting exemptions.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of exemptions from the Motor Carrier Law, adding nine new exemption categories and modifying existing ones to include broader definitions of taxicab services and jitney operations.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemption for community-based organizations engaged in community-based economic development providing transportation services, with requirements that services operate under state or county-approved plans, assets cannot be sold for personal gain, and community stakeholders have operational roles.

Added exemption for nonprofit agricultural cooperative associations transporting their own property or members' property.

Added exemption for persons towing disabled or wrecked vehicles not used for compensation or hire.

Added exemption for transportation of mail, newspapers, periodicals, magazines, messages, documents, letters, or blueprints.

Added exemption for funeral cars and ambulances.

Added exemption for garbage or refuse transportation.

Added exemption for 'sampan buses' within twenty miles of Hilo, Hawaii.

Added exemption for agricultural supply transportation including pineapple, sugarcane, raw sugar, molasses, animal feeds, and farming supplies.

Added exemption for persons transporting not more than fifteen passengers in a single daily round trip between residence and employment where the driver is also traveling to/from work.

Added exemption for jitney services defined as public transportation with 6-25 passenger vehicles operating along specific routes during defined hours with flat fare schedules.

DEFINITION

Modified taxicab definition to include inter-district rural transportation between Honolulu district terminals and outside terminals, allowing rural passenger pickup by telephone and delivery to homes.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements that exempt community-based organizations must have state or county-approved plans, maintain insurance meeting commercial requirements, own transportation assets without personal gain sale provisions, and have community stakeholder involvement.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement that state or county agencies must notify the commission when determining that a community-based organization qualifies for the exemption.

TIMELINE

Added sunset provision making the Act effective July 1, 3000, and repealed July 1, 2028, with HRS 271-5 to be reenacted in its original form before repeal.

HB1422_HD1 → HB1422_HD2 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to expand exemptions from Hawaii's motor carrier regulations to include community-based organizations engaged in community-based economic development that provide transportation services. The revision adds new eligibility criteria requiring state or county oversight, insurance requirements, asset ownership restrictions, and stakeholder involvement, while also adding several new exemption categories for agricultural and rural transportation activities.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly expanded from primarily exempting non-profit community-based organizations to specifically exempting community-based organizations engaged in community-based economic development, with additional exemptions for agricultural cooperatives, rural passenger transport, and various agricultural transportation activities.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new exemption for community-based organizations engaged in community-based economic development providing transportation services, subject to specific conditions

Modified the original exemption language to be more specific about the type of organizations eligible and added detailed operational requirements

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for state or county-approved plans, commercial insurance minimums, asset ownership restrictions, and stakeholder involvement

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'community-based economic development', 'community-based organization', and 'community stakeholders'

SCOPE

Added exemptions for nonprofit agricultural cooperatives, disabled vehicle towing, mail/newspaper delivery, funeral/ambulance services, garbage/refuse transport, sampan buses, pineapple/sugarcane transport, raw milk transport, animal feed transport, jitney services, and ranching operations

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for state or county agencies to notify the commission when an organization qualifies for the exemption

TIMELINE

Added effective date of July 1, 3000 (likely a placeholder date)

TECHNICAL

Removed formatting artifacts and metadata from the original version

HB1422_CD1 → HB1422_HD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands exemptions from Hawaii's motor carrier regulations to include non-profit community-based organizations that provide transportation services under specific conditions. The changes add new exemption categories for various agricultural and transportation activities while clarifying rules for community shuttles and jitney services.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily focusing on general motor carrier exemptions to specifically including non-profit community-based organizations and adding new exemption categories for agricultural cooperatives, ranching operations, and rural transportation services.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new exemption for non-profit community-based organizations providing transportation services, subject to three conditions: operations must follow state/county-approved plans, the organization must own transportation assets (not sell for profit), and community stakeholders must have operational roles.

Added new exemption for persons transporting unprocessed pineapple, seed corn, raw milk, animal feeds, and farming supplies under specific conditions.

Added new exemption for ranchers transporting cattle to slaughterhouses where transportation earnings are less than 50% of gross income.

Modified taxicab definition to clarify service parameters and added new exemption for jitney services (vehicles with 6-25 passengers operating on specific routes with flat fares).

Added new exemption for persons transporting up to 15 passengers between home and workplace in a single daily round trip where the driver is commuting to work.

Added new exemption for persons transporting passengers without charge in their own vehicles when directly related to their primary business purpose, with restrictions on travel agents and tour operators.

Modified existing exemptions for agricultural cooperatives, sugar plantations, and rural transportation services to clarify scope and conditions.

TECHNICAL

Added effective date of July 1, 3000 (likely placeholder date requiring correction).

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

25–0

Passed

Total votes 25

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican3

3 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 80).

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 80) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Chun, Grandinetti; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Pierick.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-22-25 10:40AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-21-25 9:00AM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 767) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 03-27-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1301) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-11-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, CPN.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 371).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Lowen, Pierick.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 373) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, CPC, referral sheet 4

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors