Hawaii HR117: Requesting the Department of Transportation to Coordinate with Utility Providers Operating Within State Highway Rights-of-way to Develop a Comprehensive Statewide Plan and Schedule to Address Derelict or Aging Utility Poles and Lines Along Farrington Highway and Other High-risk Corridors.

What the bill says

From the engrossed text:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES k IN THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D. STATE OF HAWAII HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO COORDINATE WITH UTILITY PROVIDERS OPERATING WITHIN STATE HIGHWAY RIGHTS-OFWAY TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE PLAN AND SCHEDULE TO ADDRESS DERELICT OR AGING UTILITY POLES AND LINES ALONG FARRINGTON HIGHWAY AND OTHER HIGH-RISK CORRIDORS. WHEREAS, public safety along state highways is of paramount importance, particularly in coastal, high-wind, and heavily traveled corridors; and WHEREAS, aging, damaged, or derelict utility poles and overhead lines located within state highway rights-of-way may pose safety hazards to motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and nearby residents; and WHEREAS, Farrington Highway serves as a major transportation artery for the Leeward Coast of Oahu and has experienced incidents involving downed or deteriorated utility infrastructure, raising concerns regarding resilience, safety, and emergency access; and WHEREAS, similar conditions may exist along other high-risk state highway corridors that are vulnerable to severe weather events, coastal erosion, traffic impacts, or deferred maintenance; and WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation plays a critical role in coordinating infrastructure planning and maintenance activities within those corridors; and WHEREAS, utility providers operate infrastructure within state highway rights-of-way pursuant to permits, easements, or other agreements and share responsibility for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of their infrastructure; and 2026--2879 HR117 HD1 HMSO 1~ ~ H.R. Page2 ~i WHEREAS, a coordinated, …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Darius Kila (D, 44) · primary sponsor
• Terez Amato (D, 11)
• Della Belatti (D, 26)
• Kim Iwamoto (D, 25)
• Nicole Lowen (D, 7)
• Lisa Marten (D, 51)
• Scot Matayoshi (D, 49)
• Tyson Miyake (D, 10)
• Christopher Muraoka (R, 45)
• Amy Perruso (D, 46)
• Mahina Poepoe (D, 13)

Latest actions

1. April 9, 2026: Resolution adopted in final form.
2. April 9, 2026: Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
3. April 9, 2026: Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1869-26), recommending adoption.
4. April 7, 2026: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Iwamoto, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Kong; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Ichiyama.
5. April 2, 2026: Resolution scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
6. April 2, 2026: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on CPC as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
7. April 2, 2026: Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1689-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to CPC.
8. March 31, 2026: The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
9. March 27, 2026: Resolution scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 03-31-26 10:00AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
10. March 18, 2026: Referred to TRN, CPC, referral sheet 19

Votes

• Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1) (April 9, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
• CPC: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on CPC as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (April 2, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
• TRN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 31, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HR117?

HR117 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Requesting the Department of Transportation to Coordinate with Utility Providers Operating Within State Highway Rights-of-way to Develop a Comprehensive Statewide Plan and Schedule to Address Derelict or Aging Utility Poles and Lines Along Farrington Highway and Other High-risk Corridors.

What is the status of HR117?

Passed both chambers as of April 9, 2026. Latest action: Resolution adopted in final form. (April 9, 2026).

Who sponsored HR117?

Darius Kila (D, 44), with 10 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HR117?

On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HR&billnumber=117&year=2026