SB 485: RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-10
Current Status:
Failed
(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent. Exempts the light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices for side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows in sedans. Repeals the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent. Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on side and rear windows necessary for driving visibility from thirty-five per cent to five per cent plus or minus six per cent. Repeals the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle. Makes conforming amendments.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
485 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 249-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsections (a) and (b) to read:
"(a)
Upon receipt of the tax the director of finance shall number and
register the vehicle in the owner's name in a permanent record or book to be
kept by the director for this purpose, and shall furnish the owner thereof with
a receipt showing upon its face the license number issued for the vehicle and
the fact that the license tax has been paid thereon for the whole or the
remainder of the current year in which the receipt is issued. The director of finance shall also furnish
the owner, upon the original registration of the vehicle, [two number plates
for the vehicle or one plate in the case of trailers, semitrailers, or
motorcycles] one number plate for any vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or
motorcycle with the registration number marked thereon. Upon the payment of the tax for each year a
tag or emblem bearing a serial number and the month and year of expiration
shall be provided to the owner. Transfer
of current number [plates,] plate, tag, or emblem, except as
authorized by this chapter or by chapter 286, is punishable by a fine of not
more than $50 for each offense.
(b)
Upon an original registration the director of finance shall fix, and
shall charge to the owner, a fee equal to the cost of the number plate [and],
tag, or emblem plus the administrative cost of furnishing the plate and
tag or emblem and effecting the registration.
Upon the issuance of a new series of number plates as determined by the
directors of finance of each county through majority consent, the director of
finance shall charge the owner a fee equal to the costs of the number plate
plus the administrative cost of furnishing the [plates.] plate. Upon issuing a tag or emblem, the director of
finance shall charge the owner a fee of 50 cents. The owner shall securely fasten the number [plates]
plate on the vehicle [one on the front and the other] trailer,
semitrailer, or motorcycle on the rear, at a location provided by the
manufacturer or in the absence of such a location upon the [bumpers] rear
bumper of the vehicle and in conformance with section 291-31, in [such]
a manner as to prevent the [plates] plate from swinging. [Number plates] A number plate
shall at all times be displayed entirely unobscured and be kept reasonably
clean. [In the case of trailers,
semitrailers, or motorcycles, one plate shall be used and it shall be fastened
to the rear thereof at a location provided by the manufacturer or in the
absence of such a location at the rear thereof, and in the case of motorcycles
in conformance with section 291-31.]"
2. By amending subsections (d) and (e) to read:
"(d)
After the initial payment of the tax and the original registration of a
vehicle as herein specified, a motor vehicle shall not be required to be
reweighed in any succeeding year unless it has been so altered or changed as to
increase or diminish its weight. No new
number [plates] plate shall, however, be issued to a new owner
except as provided in sections 249-7.5 and 249-8.
(e)
If an owner of a vehicle registered in any county, upon the disposition
of the vehicle, requests that the license [plates] plate
furnished to the owner with respect to the registration of the vehicle be
assigned to another vehicle subsequently acquired by the owner, the assignment
may be made by the director of finance at the director's discretion. To defray additional administrative costs
incurred by acceding to those requests, the director of finance shall charge a
fee of $5 for each reassignment of license plates, in addition to the fee for
registration. The procedure for
registering the vehicles shall otherwise be identical with that provided by
this section."
SECTION 2. Section 249-7.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§249-7.5 New motor vehicle with a
temporary number plate. Any person
who has purchased a new motor vehicle which has attached a temporary number
plate under section 286-53 shall register the new motor vehicle in accordance
with this chapter within thirty days after taking possession of the motor
vehicle. For the purposes of this
chapter, the registration of such a motor vehicle shall be considered an
original registration under section 249-7.
Within thirty days of the original registration of such a motor vehicle,
the director of finance shall furnish [two number plates] one number
plate and the valid tag or emblem appropriate for the year of registration,
if any, which shall be attached to the motor vehicle as provided under section
249-7. Upon attachment of the number [plates,]
plate, the temporary number plate provided under section 286-53 shall be
destroyed."
SECTION 3. Section 249-9.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c)
Registration certificates and license plates issued under this section
shall not be transferable to any other person.
Special number plates for military service shall be assigned to a
noncommercial passenger motor vehicle, a noncommercial motorcycle, or motor
scooter registered in the name of the qualified applicant and shall be
available in any category of special number plates for military service. [Prior to] Before the transfer
of the ownership of the qualified person's vehicle to another party, the
special number plates shall be surrendered to the director of finance as a
condition to the issuance of replacement special number plates; provided that
the director of finance shall allow the survivor of the qualified person, upon
request, to retain the [front] special number plate as a memorial."
SECTION 4. Section 291-21.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
"(d) This section shall not apply to:
(1) Rearview mirrors;
(2) Adjustable nontransparent sun visors [which]
that are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the
glazing material;
(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials [which]
that are displayed in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the
windshield farthest removed from the driver or signs, stickers, or other
materials [which] that are displayed in a five-inch square in the
lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver;
(4) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges;
(5) Window wipers and window wiper motors;
(6) Transparent sun screening film
materials [which] that are installed, affixed, or applied along
the top edge of the windshield so long as [such] the materials do
not encroach upon the AS-1 portion of the windshield as provided by Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 or [no] not lower than four
inches below the top of the windshield, when measured from the middle point of
the bottom edge of the top windshield moulding if no AS-1 markings can be found
in the left or right upper margin of the windshield;
(7) Sun screening devices for front side
wing vents and windows which, when used in conjunction with the glazing
material have a light transmittance of [no] not less than thirty-five
per cent plus or minus six per cent;
(8) Sun screening devices for side windows
necessary for driving visibility [which] that are to the rear of
the driver and for rear windows necessary for driving visibility which, when
used in conjunction with the glazing material, have a light transmittance of [no]
not less than [thirty-five] five per cent plus or minus
six per cent;
(9) Side windows [which] that
are to the rear of the driver and rear windows on vans, minivans, trucks, sedans,
or buses; provided that the vehicles are equipped with rearview mirrors on both
sides;
(10) Privacy drapes, curtains, or blinds, or any combination, installed on the interior of motor homes; or
(11) Transparent sun screening materials,
when applied to the AS-1 portion of the windshield, [which meets] that
meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205."
SECTION 5. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Motor Vehicles Regulations; Motor Vehicle Sun Screening Devices; Exemption; Number Plates
Description:
Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent. Exempts the light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices for side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows in sedans. Repeals the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
485 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to motor vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 249-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsections (a) and (b) to read:
"(a)
Upon receipt of the tax the director of finance shall number and
register the vehicle in the owner's name in a permanent record or book to be
kept by the director for this purpose, and shall furnish the owner thereof with
a receipt showing upon its face the license number issued for the vehicle and
the fact that the license tax has been paid thereon for the whole or the
remainder of the current year in which the receipt is issued. The director of finance shall also furnish
the owner, upon the original registration of the vehicle, [two number plates
for the vehicle or one plate in the case of trailers, semitrailers, or
motorcycles] one number plate for any vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or
motorcycle with the registration number marked thereon. Upon the payment of the tax for each year a
tag or emblem bearing a serial number and the month and year of expiration
shall be provided to the owner. Transfer
of current number [plates,] plate, tag, or emblem, except as
authorized by this chapter or by chapter 286, is punishable by a fine of not
more than $50 for each offense.
(b)
Upon an original registration the director of finance shall fix, and
shall charge to the owner, a fee equal to the cost of the number plate [and],
tag, or emblem plus the administrative cost of furnishing the plate and
tag or emblem and effecting the registration.
Upon the issuance of a new series of number plates as determined by the
directors of finance of each county through majority consent, the director of
finance shall charge the owner a fee equal to the costs of the number plate
plus the administrative cost of furnishing the [plates.] plate. Upon issuing a tag or emblem, the director of
finance shall charge the owner a fee of 50 cents. The owner shall securely fasten the number [plates]
plate on the vehicle[, one on the front and the other],
trailer, semitrailer, or motorcycle on the rear, at a location provided by
the manufacturer or in the absence of such a location upon the [bumpers]
rear bumper of the vehicle and in conformance with section 291-31, in [such]
a manner as to prevent the [plates] plate from swinging. [Number plates] A number plate shall
at all times be displayed entirely unobscured and be kept reasonably
clean. [In the case of trailers,
semitrailers, or motorcycles, one plate shall be used and it shall be fastened
to the rear thereof at a location provided by the manufacturer or in the
absence of such a location at the rear thereof, and in the case of motorcycles
in conformance with section 291-31.]"
2. By amending subsections (d) and (e) to read:
"(d)
After the initial payment of the tax and the original registration of a
vehicle as herein specified, a motor vehicle shall not be required to be
reweighed in any succeeding year unless it has been so altered or changed as to
increase or diminish its weight. No new
number [plates] plate shall, however, be issued to a new owner
except as provided in sections 249-7.5 and 249-8.
(e)
If an owner of a vehicle registered in any county, upon the disposition
of the vehicle, requests that the license [plates] plate
furnished to the owner with respect to the registration of the vehicle be
assigned to another vehicle subsequently acquired by the owner, the assignment
may be made by the director of finance at the director's discretion. To defray additional administrative costs
incurred by acceding to those requests, the director of finance shall charge a
fee of $5 for each reassignment of license plates, in addition to the fee for
registration. The procedure for
registering the vehicles shall otherwise be identical with that provided by
this section."
SECTION 2. Section 249-7.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§249-7.5 New motor vehicle with a
temporary number plate. Any person
who has purchased a new motor vehicle which has attached a temporary number
plate under section 286-53 shall register the new motor vehicle in accordance
with this chapter within thirty days after taking possession of the motor
vehicle. For the purposes of this
chapter, the registration of such a motor vehicle shall be considered an
original registration under section 249-7.
Within thirty days of the original registration of such a motor vehicle,
the director of finance shall furnish [two number plates] one number
plate and the valid tag or emblem appropriate for the year of registration,
if any, which shall be attached to the motor vehicle as provided under section
249-7. Upon attachment of the number [plates,]
plate, the temporary number plate provided under section 286-53 shall be
destroyed."
SECTION 3. Section 249-9.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c)
Registration certificates and license plates issued under this section
shall not be transferable to any other person.
Special number plates for military service shall be assigned to a
noncommercial passenger motor vehicle, a noncommercial motorcycle, or motor
scooter registered in the name of the qualified applicant and shall be
available in any category of special number plates for military service. [Prior to] Before the transfer
of the ownership of the qualified person's vehicle to another party, the
special number plates shall be surrendered to the director of finance as a
condition to the issuance of replacement special number plates; provided that
the director of finance shall allow the survivor of the qualified person, upon
request, to retain the [front] special number plate as a memorial."
SECTION 4. Section 291-21.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
"(d) This section shall not apply to:
(1) Rearview mirrors;
(2) Adjustable nontransparent sun visors [which]
that are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the
glazing material;
(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials [which]
that are displayed in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the
windshield farthest removed from the driver or signs, stickers, or other
materials [which] that are displayed in a five-inch square in the
lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver;
(4) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges;
(5) Window wipers and window wiper motors;
(6) Transparent sun screening film
materials [which] that are installed, affixed, or applied along
the top edge of the windshield so long as [such] the materials do
not encroach upon the AS-1 portion of the windshield as provided by Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 or [no] not lower than four
inches below the top of the windshield, when measured from the middle point of
the bottom edge of the top windshield moulding if no AS-1 markings can be found
in the left or right upper margin of the windshield;
(7) Sun screening devices for front side
wing vents and windows which, when used in conjunction with the glazing
material have a light transmittance of [no] not less than [thirty-five]
twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent;
(8) Sun screening devices for side windows
necessary for driving visibility [which] that are to the rear of
the driver and for rear windows necessary for driving visibility which, when
used in conjunction with the glazing material, have a light transmittance of [no]
not less than [thirty-five] five per cent plus or minus
six per cent;
(9) Side windows [which] that
are to the rear of the driver and rear windows on vans, minivans, trucks, or
buses; provided that the vehicles are equipped with rearview mirrors on both
sides;
(10) Privacy drapes, curtains, or blinds, or any combination, installed on the interior of motor homes; or
(11) Transparent sun screening materials,
when applied to the AS-1 portion of the windshield, [which meets] that
meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205."
SECTION 5. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Motor Vehicles Regulations; Motor Vehicle Sun Screening Devices; Exemption; Number Plates
Description:
Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent. Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on side and rear windows necessary for driving visibility from thirty-five per cent to five per cent plus or minus six per cent. Repeals the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle. Makes conforming amendments.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Feb 11, 2025 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. |
| Feb 11, 2025 | Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 254) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Jan 31, 2025 | The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Referred to TCA, JDC. |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Passed First Reading. |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Introduced. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Feb 4, 2025 | The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| City and County of Honolulu | *** Against | Feb 4, 2025 |
| Honolulu Police Department | ** Against |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 254
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 485
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 485 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Decrease the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five percent to twenty percent plus or minus six percent;
(2) Decrease the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on side and rear windows necessary for driving visibility from thirty-five percent to five percent plus or minus six percent;
(3) Repeal the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle; and
(4) Make conforming amendments.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation.
Your Committee finds that Hawaii has strict motor vehicle window tinting restrictions. Due to the perpetually sunny weather in the State, increased window tinting would assist in keeping motor vehicles at reasonable temperatures and assisting visibility. Accordingly, this measure allows individuals to reduce their motor vehicle window light transmittance.
Your Committee notes the Department of Transportation's comments on this measure regarding motor vehicle sun screening devices and accepts its recommendations.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting language that would have decreased the light transmittance level for the front side wing vents and side window;
(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 485, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 485, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,
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________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 4, 2025 | SB485_TESTIMONY_TCA_02-04-25_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):