SB2521 Senate Bill

Passed

2026-03-10

Relating To Emergency Services.

Exempts emergency medical services personnel from commercial driver's license requirements. Requires federal, state, and county firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and law enforcement officers to maintain proof that they have successfully completed an agency approved or other state approved training on authorized emergency vehicles. Amends the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" under the State Traffic Code to replace ambulances with emergency medical services vehicles. Expands the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" to include disaster response and recovery vehicles and Department of Health vehicles. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill Details

State

Hawaii

Session

2026 Regular Session

Chamber

Senate

Official Source

www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...

LegiScan

View on LegiScan

Action History

2026-03-31 H The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.

2026-03-25 H Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-31-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

2026-03-24 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).

2026-03-24 H Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1336-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

2026-03-19 H The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, La Chica, Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kitagawa.

2026-03-16 H Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 03-19-26 8:30AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

2026-03-12 H Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 17

2026-03-12 H Pass First Reading

2026-03-10 H Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 256) in amended form (SD 1).

2026-03-10 S Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

2026-03-06 S One Day Notice 03-10-26.

2026-03-06 S Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3029) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.

2026-03-03 S The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Chang, San Buenaventura.

2026-02-24 S The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

2026-02-17 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

2026-02-17 S Reported from TRS/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2278) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

2026-02-11 S The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

2026-02-11 S The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TRS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..

2026-02-06 S The committee(s) on TRS/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:15PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

2026-01-28 S Referred to TRS/HHS, JDC.

2026-01-23 S Passed First Reading.

2026-01-23 S Introduced.

Votes

2026-02-11 Senate Transportation: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 4 Nay: 0

2026-02-11 Senate Health and Human Services: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 5 Nay: 0

2026-03-03 Senate Judiciary: Passed, Unamended Yea: 3 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-28 S Transportation

2026-02-17 S Judiciary

2026-03-12 H Transportation

2026-03-24 H Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-22 Introduced

2026-02-13 Amended

2026-03-23 Amended

Subjects

City and County of Honolulu Mayor's Package Commercial Driver's License Exemption Emergency Medical Services Personnel Authorized Emergency Vehicle DOH