Deaf Vehicle Registration Designation
Summary
The Hawaii State Senate passed SB2851, authorizing deaf motor vehicle owners to voluntarily register their vehicles with a deafness designation that appears when law enforcement accesses the vehicle's information. The bill passed both chambers unanimously and takes effect January 1, 2027.
What changed
Hawaii enacted SB2851 permitting deaf motor vehicle owners to request a voluntary deafness designation on their vehicle registration. When law enforcement accesses the vehicle's information, the designation will alert officers that the registered owner is deaf. The bill was co-sponsored by multiple senators and passed through Senate committees on Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Judiciary before passing the full Senate 25-0 and the House without opposition.
This is a minor administrative registration change that adds an optional designation feature to Hawaii's vehicle registration system. Motorists who are deaf and wish to add this designation should do so when registering or renewing their vehicle on or after January 1, 2027. No specific compliance actions are required by employers, businesses, or other entities. Vehicle registration offices will implement the designation option within existing systems.
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Hawaii / SB2851 Passed SB2851 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-10
Relating To Deaf Individuals.
Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information. Effective 1/1/2027. (HD1)
Bill Details
State Hawaii
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...
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Sponsors
Joy San Buenaventura (Sen - D) Stanley Chang (Sen - D) Brandon Elefante (Sen - D) Carol Fukunaga (Sen - D) Dru Kanuha (Sen - D) Angus McKelvey (Sen - D) Karl Rhoads (Sen - D) Troy Hashimoto (Sen - D)
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. 1334-26) 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. 309) 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. 2992) 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: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. 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. 2026-02-13 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. 2026-02-13 S Reported from TRS/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2261) 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: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte. 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. 2026-01-30 S Referred to TRS/HHS, JDC. 2026-01-26 S Passed First Reading. 2026-01-23 S Introduced.
Votes
2026-02-11 Senate Transportation: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 3 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: 5 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-30 S Transportation 2026-02-13 S Judiciary 2026-03-12 H Transportation 2026-03-24 H Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-23 Introduced 2026-02-12 Amended 2026-03-23 Amended
Subjects
Deaf Hearing Impaired Disability Motor Vehicle Registration Law Enforcement Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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