HB1163 • 2026

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2026-04-30
Official status: Transmitted to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.
Department of Transportation; Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver's Licenses and Non-Domiciled Commercial Learner's Permits; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Amends requirements to commercial driver's license qualification standards to meet current federal regulations to allow the State to issue a non-domiciled commercial learner's permit and non‑domiciled commercial driver's license for applicants who are unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency.
(CD1)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: HB1163 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1163 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1163 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB1163 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1163 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1163 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB1163 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1163 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1163 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: HB1163 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1163 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1163 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-05-01 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 882).
2026-04-30 H
Transmitted to Governor.
2026-04-30 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 803).
2026-04-30 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).
2026-04-30 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-04-28 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-26
2026-04-28 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 3-26).
2026-04-28 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Thursday, 04-30-26.
2026-04-28 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 3-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-27 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCorte.
2026-04-27 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Takenouchi, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 9:31AM; Conference Room 329.
2026-04-23 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).
2026-04-22 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Inouye Chair; Chang Co-Chair; DeCorte.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Takenouchi Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
2026-04-17 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
2026-04-16 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-14 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 571) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-04-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-09 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-09 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3690) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-03-31 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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.
2026-03-25 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-31-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-24 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-03-24 S
Reported from TRS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3141) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-03-19 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.
2026-03-16 S
The committee(s) on TRS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to TRS, JDC.
2026-03-10 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 132).
2026-03-06 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1005-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Gedeon; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-14 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 702) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-02-13 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa.
2025-02-11 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 02-13-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to TRN, FIN, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.
Department of Transportation; Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver's Licenses and Non-Domiciled Commercial Learner's Permits; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Amends requirements to commercial driver's license qualification standards to meet current federal regulations to allow the State to issue a non-domiciled commercial learner's permit and non‑domiciled commercial driver's license for applicants who are unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1163

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1163

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
Section
286-236, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read
as follows:

����
"
�286-236
�
Commercial driver's license qualification
standards.
�
(a)
�
No person shall be issued a commercial
driver's license unless that person:

����
(1)
�
Meets
the qualification standards of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 391,
subparts B and E;

����
(2)
�
Has
passed a knowledge and driving skills test for driving a commercial motor
vehicle that complies with minimum federal standards established by federal
regulation enumerated in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 383,
subparts G and H;

����
(3)
�
[
Is domiciled in the
State as defined in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 383.5;
]
Provides
to the State proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency as specified in
Table 1 to title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, section 383.71, as amended
October 14, 2021, or obtains a non-domiciled commercial learner
'
s permit or non-domiciled commercial driver
'
s license as provided in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations,
section 383.71(f), that shall be issued as a limited-term commercial learner
'
s permit and limited-term commercial driver
'
s license;
and

����
(4)
�
Has
satisfied all other requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of
1986, Public Law 99-570, title XII, in addition to other requirements imposed
by state law or federal regulation.

The tests
shall be prescribed by the director and administered by the respective county
examiner of drivers.
�
The test examiners
shall communicate with the applicant only in English during the skills test.
�
As of January 30, 2012, the examiner of
drivers shall verify that the medical certification status of a driver who
self-certified according to title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section
383.71(b)(1)(i), non-excepted interstate, is certified.
�
If a driver submits a current medical
examiner's certificate, the examiner of drivers shall date-stamp the
certificate and post all required information to the commercial driver's
license information system pursuant to title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
section 383.73(b)(5) and in accordance with title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations section 383.73(o).
�
A person
who is not physically qualified to drive under title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations section 391.41(b)(1) or (2) and who is otherwise qualified to drive
a motor vehicle may be granted an intrastate waiver by the director.
�
The process for granting intrastate waivers
shall be the same as that for interstate waivers in title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations section 391.49; provided that the intrastate waiver requests shall
be submitted to the director.

����
(b)
�
The examiner of drivers may waive the driving
skills test specified in this section for a commercial driver's license
applicant who meets the requirements of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
section 383.77 or 383.123(b).

����
(c)
�
A commercial driver's license or commercial
learner's permit, including a provisional or temporary license or permit, shall
not be issued to a person while the person is subject to a disqualification
from driving a commercial motor vehicle, or while the person's driver's license
is suspended, revoked, or canceled in any state; or while the person holds a
driver's license issued by any other state unless the person first surrenders
that license.

����
(d)
�
A commercial learner's permit may be issued to
an individual who holds a valid driver's license, is at least eighteen years of
age, meets the qualification standards of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations,
part 391, subparts B and E, and has passed the written tests required for the
desired class of a commercial driver's license.

����
(e)
�
The commercial learner's permit shall not be
valid for a period in excess of one hundred eighty days from the date that the
applicant passes the general and all required endorsement knowledge tests;
provided that, if the applicant is not required to take a knowledge test, the
period shall start when the permit is issued.
�
When driving a commercial motor vehicle, the
holder of a commercial learner's permit shall be accompanied by a person with a
valid commercial driver's license to operate that category of commercial motor
vehicle with the proper endorsements.
�
The licensed person shall occupy the seat
beside the individual for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the
commercial motor vehicle.
�
The commercial
learner's permit may be renewed no more than an additional one hundred eighty
days without requiring the commercial learner's permit holder to retake the
general or endorsement knowledge tests, and the applicant requalifies meeting
the requirements of subsection (d).
�
The
commercial learner's permit holder is eligible to take the commercial driver's
license skills test no earlier than fourteen days after obtaining the permit.

����
(f)
�
The examiner of drivers may waive the
knowledge and skills tests specified in this section for any person who is at
least twenty-one years of age and who possesses a valid commercial driver's
license issued by any state of the United States, Mexico, or a province of
Canada that issues licenses in accordance with the minimum federal standards
for the issuance of commercial driver's licenses.
�
The examiner of drivers shall accept the test
scores of a Hawaii commercial learner's permit holder who completes training in
another state in the United States and is tested in compliance with federal
motor carrier safety regulations by that state in association with the
training.
�
The testing state shall
electronically transmit in a secure manner the skills test results directly to
the examiner of drivers, and if the applicant passed, and meets all other
requirements, a Hawaii commercial driver's license shall be issued.
�
To retain a hazardous materials endorsement,
the applicant shall pass the knowledge test for a hazardous materials
endorsement and be determined by the federal Transportation Security
Administration not to pose a security risk warranting denial of the
endorsement.

����
(g)
�
Every applicant shall successfully complete
the commercial driver's license general knowledge test before being issued a
commercial learner's permit.
�
A driver
holding a valid commercial driver's license who seeks an upgrade for which a
skills test is required shall also pass the appropriate knowledge test before
obtaining a commercial learner's permit.
�
Beginning February 7, 2022, except for a
driver holding a valid commercial driver's license or commercial learner's
permit that was obtained before February 7, 2022, every applicant shall
complete the entry-level driver training requirements as specified in title 49
Code of Federal Regulations part 380, subpart F, and be verified with the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Training Provider Registry before
taking the skills test for a class A or class B commercial driver's license,
passenger endorsement, or school bus endorsement, and before taking the
knowledge test for a hazardous materials endorsement.

����
(h)
�

Beginning November 18, 2024, the examiner of drivers shall not issue,
renew, transfer, or upgrade a commercial driver's license; renew the hazardous
materiala endorsement; or issue, renew, or upgrade a commercial learner's
permit; if the results of a query to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is that the driver is
prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle."

����
SECTION 2.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Limited-Term Non-Domiciled Commercial
Driver's Licenses and Non-Domiciled Commercial Learner's Permits; Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration

Description:

Amends section 286-236, HRS, to meet current federal
regulations to allow the State to issue a limited-term non-domiciled commercial
learner's permit and non-domiciled commercial driver's license for applicants
who are unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.