# Hawaii HB 1879: RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

Hawaii HB 1879, RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Sean Quinlan (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-19 (Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 528-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1879-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 1879
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-02-19, Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 528-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: Sean Quinlan (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: DOT, Subsidized Youth Transit Program, Keiki Ride Free, Public Transit, Special Fund, Appropriation, TRN, HSH, FIN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (67 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes within the Department of Transportation a subsidized youth transit program for youth who are residents of the State, to be coordinated with the counties. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules, expand eligibility, and consult with the Department of Education on best practices, under certain conditions. Establishes the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires biannual evaluations of the new program and Special Fund. Allocates funds from the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Appropriates funds into and out of the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Sean Quinlan (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-17 | House | The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 7 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSH... | pass | 51 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-02-19: Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 528-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN. (House)
- 2026-02-19: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). (House)
- 2026-02-17: The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Amato, Hartsfield. (House)
- 2026-02-12: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-10: Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 128-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSH. (House)
- 2026-02-10: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSH with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). (House)
- 2026-02-05: The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Cochran, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-02-03: The committee(s) on TRN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-05-26 9:30AM. (House)
- 2026-02-03: Bill scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 02-05-26 9:30AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-01-30: Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 02-03-26 10:30AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-01-26: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2026-01-26: Referred to TRN, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2026-01-23: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_HD2_.pdf)
- HB1879_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_HD1_.HTM)
- HB1879_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_HD2_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_HD2_.pdf)
- [HB1879_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_HD1_.HTM)
- [HB1879_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_HD2_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1879_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1879-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).