Bill > HB2451

This bill mandates that starting January 1, 2027, each county in Hawaii must provide fare-free access to its public transportation systems, meaning all riders can use public transit without paying a fare. To fund this initiative, the bill establishes a new "Fare-Free Public Transportation Tax and Dividend Special Fund" and significantly increases the tax on petroleum products, specifically raising it from $1.05 to $3.35 per barrel, with a portion of this increased tax revenue, $2.30 per barrel, to be deposited into this new fund to reimburse counties for the costs of providing free transit. The bill also outlines specific annual reimbursement amounts for each county and states that these amounts will be adjusted for inflation, with the overall tax increase on petroleum products taking effect on January 1, 2027, and the rest of the bill's provisions becoming effective on July 1, 3000.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2451&year=2026