HI HCR209

Requests the Department of Transportation to establish a Fossil Fuel Subsidy and Fare-Free Transit Fiscal Impact Working Group to analyze fossil fuel subsidies and evaluate statewide fare-free public transportation impacts.

Working group would quantify federal fossil fuel subsidies attributable to Hawaii, estimate the "true cost" of gasoline without subsidies, and calculate the annual cost for each county to provide fare-free transit.

Requires modeling scenarios where public transit ridership increases by 20%, 40%, and 60%, calculating reductions in vehicle miles traveled, gasoline consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and infrastructure costs.

Working group membership includes representatives from state agencies (Transportation, Taxation, DBEDT), all four county transit systems (TheBus, Hele-On, Maui Bus, Kauai Bus), UH Economic Research Organization, and climate/health experts.

First meeting must convene within 90 days of adoption, with a final report including fiscal tables, gasoline price modeling, emissions projections, and proposed legislation due 20 days before the 2027 legislative session.