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HR 119

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A STATE HIGHWAY POLICE FORCE.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Darius Kila and 2 co-sponsors

Hawaii resolution requests DOT and law enforcement agencies collaborate to establish a dedicated State Highway Police Force for highway safety and enforcement.

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Bill Summary · HR 119

Legislative bill overview

HR 119 is a non-binding resolution requesting that Hawaii's Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement collaborate to establish a new State Highway Police Force. The bill does not create the force itself but asks these agencies to work together on developing this law enforcement capability for state highways.

Why is this important

Highway safety and enforcement currently fall under existing law enforcement structures, and this resolution proposes a dedicated specialized force. Creating a separate highway police force would represent a significant restructuring of traffic enforcement and could affect public safety response times, funding allocation, and administrative coordination across state agencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding: Establishing a new law enforcement agency requires substantial budget allocation; unclear whether this diverts resources from existing priorities or requires new funding
  • Jurisdictional overlap: Potential conflicts with existing county police and sheriff departments who currently handle highway enforcement and patrol responsibilities
  • Necessity and efficiency: Question of whether a dedicated force is more effective than improving coordination with existing agencies, or if current resources are inadequate to justify the administrative overhead

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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