HOUSE PASSES TRANSPORTATION BILLS TO MAKE HAWAIʻI'S ROADS SAFER, INCLUDING E-BIKE REGULATIONS

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives passed a series of transportation-related bills that have been transmitted to the Senate for consideration. The legislation targets key areas, including road safety, traffic enforcement, and improving mobility and public safety across the state.

"These bills reflect our committee’s priorities: making streets safer, improving enforcement and traffic safety, and ensuring the well-being of our residents," said House Committee on Transportation Chair Darius K. Kila.

Among the measures, HB2021 stands out by establishing clear safety standards and regulations for electronic bicycles and defining responsible riding behaviors.

Kila added, "With the technical changes made in this year's e-bike bill, we hope that this year, it'll be signed into law. HB2021 clarifies definitions, establishes safety standards, and sets clear enforcement language to ensure workable implementation. Current laws do not provide adequate protections or requirements, and this legislation addresses those gaps."

The following measures approved by the House have crossed over to the Senate.

HB1510 HD2 - Relating to License Plates

Conditions the issuance of a certificate of inspection upon a vehicle not being equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate. Amends the penalty for obstruction of a license plate. Allows state or county parking enforcement officers and persons authorized by a state or county law enforcement agency to issue citations for vehicles with a cover or shield obstructing the license plate. Repeals the requirement that a cover or shield be intended to alter or interfere with the visibility, legibility, or identification of a license plate by law enforcement or traffic enforcement systems.

HB1696 HD2 - Relating to Commercial Driver’s Licenses

Lowers the age of those who may drive commercially within the State from nineteen to eighteen. Repeals the requirement that a person only operates category 3 vehicles to qualify to drive commercially in the State. Requires the Department of Transportation to amend its rules to lower the minimum age required for a commercial driver's license.

HB2021 HD2 - Relating to Transportation

Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. Establishes labeling and signage requirements for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations. Amends the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of county vehicular taxes. Defines "electric bicycle" in place of "low-speed electric bicycle". Authorizes the seizure of non-road-legal, nonconforming electric bicycles and high-speed electric devices. Defines "electric micro-mobility device" and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters. Prohibits a person under the age of sixteen from operating a class 2 or class 3 electric bicycle without direct supervision. Authorizes a person to ride an electric bicycle on a sidewalk under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of eighteen without a helmet. Repeals the requirement that moped drivers use bicycle lanes. Substitutes the term "motor scooter" with the term "motor-driven cycle".

HB2022 HD1 - Relating to Motor Vehicle Registration

Specifies that the county annual vehicle registration fee shall not exceed the state annual motor vehicle registration fee. Specifies that the counties are required to spend a certain portion of the collected revenues from county motor vehicle registration fees and weight tax on roadway repair and maintenance. Specifies that the county annual vehicle weight tax shall not exceed the state annual vehicle weight tax.

HB2023 HD2 - Relating to Transportation

Requires the Department of Transportation to administer a statewide program for certification of active intelligent speed assistance systems and select a vendor for the installation and maintenance of systems. Limits the civil liability of motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for active intelligent speed assistance systems. Makes circumventing or tampering with an active intelligent speed assistance system a misdemeanor. Allows the Judiciary to impose the installation of active intelligent speed assistance systems as an additional penalty and as part of a license suspension or revocation for repeat offenders of certain traffic violations.

HB2030 HD2 - Relating to Transportation Affordability

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a clean vehicle rebate program to provide rebates for the purchase or lease of new and used zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Establishes the clean vehicle special fund. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a transportation affordability and energy security tax.

HB2031 HD2 - Relating to Transportation

Establishes the Administrative Hearings Division within the Department of Transportation and transfers certain administrative hearing powers to the Division, including matters related to transportation network company permit appeals, automated red light camera and speed enforcement traffic citations, and commercial driver's license appeals. Allows authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement to review images produced by the automated red light camera and speed enforcement systems.

HB2033 HD2 - Relating to Transportation

PART I: Requires sellers and licensed dealers to ensure that a motor vehicle is equipped with a front number plate mounting bracket or device. Requires a seller, licensed dealer, or owner to securely fasten number plates on vehicles. PART II: Amends the Traffic Code relating to street racing. PART III: Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Appropriates funds. PART IV: Allows counties to use automatic license plate recognition systems to identify vehicles without current inspection or registration certificates and issue citations with fines waivable if compliance is demonstrated. Establishes data privacy and retention requirements. Allows counties, in coordination with the Department of Transportation, to use red light and speed camera systems for enforcement. PART V: Authorizes the installation of cameras on the stop arm of a school bus to record footage for evidence of a violation for passing or overtaking a school bus while the bus is stopped and its visual signals are turned on. Amends the fines for passing or overtaking a school bus while the bus is stopped and its visual signals are turned on. Appropriates funds. PART VI: Specifies that the Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Safety Office shall administer the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program Special Fund and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. PART VII: Clarifies language relating to photo red light enforcement, automated speed enforcement, and penalty provisions.

HB2138 HD1 - Relating to Economic Development

Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona.

HB2217 HD2 - Relating to Identification

Allows applicants for driver's permit, driver's license, or civil identification cards to request a disability notation on their permit, license, or identification card. Requires the Department of Transportation to establish public outreach efforts and coordinate with state and county law enforcement agencies regarding the disability notation.

HB2333 HD2 - Relating to Transportation

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate airport special districts within airports statewide. Increases penalties for certain aeronautics law violations by reclassifying them from civil violations to petty misdemeanors.

HB2336 HD1 - Relating to Federal Military Installations

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the United States Department of Defense for the provision of services at federal military installations, under certain conditions. Authorizes charging an administrative fee.

HB2417 HD2 - Relating to Administrative License Revocation

Clarifies administrative driver's license revocation procedures by specifying the effect of the notice of administrative revocation and conforming related administrative review and hearing provisions.

HB1692 HD2 - Relating to Traffic Safety

Part I: Requires drivers approaching stationary vehicles displaying warning signals to slow down and make a lane change if possible and safe to do so. Part II: Prohibits the operation of a pickup truck with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area on roadways with posted speed limits of forty-six miles per hour or higher and roadways with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction. Provides certain exemptions from passenger restrictions. Increases the minimum age to ride in the bed or load-carrying area of a pickup truck while in operation from twelve years of age to eighteen years of age.

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