HI SB3154

Authorizes Hawaii Department of Transportation to assume federal environmental review responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for highway, railroad, public transportation, and multimodal projects within the state.

Enables the department to enter into memoranda of understanding with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation under 23 U.S.C. sections 326 and 327 for categorical exclusions and the federal surface transportation project delivery program.

Provides a limited waiver of state sovereign immunity in federal court for claims arising from the department's assumed NEPA responsibilities, conditioned on an active memorandum of understanding being in place.

Allows the department to adopt administrative rules implementing the program and incorporate relevant federal environmental standards as state standards.

Modeled after the Texas Department of Transportation's authorizing statute to streamline project delivery while maintaining environmental protections.