HI SB2993

Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to offer fully subsidized public transit passes as a benefit for all state employees, coordinated with county transportation agencies and integrated into employee badges.

Ground transportation accounts for 38% of Hawaii's transportation emissions, with light-duty vehicles responsible for 85% of those emissions; reducing commuter vehicle miles is necessary to meet state decarbonization goals and legal requirements from the Navahine F. v. Hawaii Department of Transportation settlement.

Currently, the state indirectly subsidizes employee parking in downtown Honolulu at $130-$238 per month but provides no subsidy for employees using public transit, carpooling, walking, or biking.

2024 state employee focus groups found 54% of respondents would use public transit if passes were fully subsidized, and 48% would walk, bike, or scooter to work with a financial incentive.

Appropriates an unspecified amount from general revenues for fiscal year 2026-2027, with an effective date of January 1, 2077.