HB2026 • 2026

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: KILA, CHUN, ILAGAN, KUSCH, OLDS, POEPOE, TAKAYAMA, TAM
Last action: 2026-02-20
Official status: 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) Quinlan excused (1).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide exact penalty amounts for violations.

Rules for Oversized Vehicles Towing Trailers

This bill restricts vehicles towing trailers from using the far left lane on highways with three or more lanes in the same direction, sets penalties for violations, and applies these rules to counties with a population of at least 500,000.

What This Bill Does

Restricts motor vehicles towing a vehicle or trailer from using the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction unless they can maintain speed with traffic flow or are turning left.
Specifies penalties for violating these rules: fines for first, second, and third violations within three years.
Applies restrictions and penalties to counties with a population of 500,000 or more.

Who It Names or Affects

Drivers towing trailers on highways in large-population counties
Law enforcement officers who enforce traffic laws

Terms To Know

Commercial vehicle: A truck, bus, or other vehicle used for business purposes and weighing over ten thousand pounds.
Penalties: Fines or other punishments given to people who break traffic laws.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact fines for violations.
It only applies to counties with a population of at least 500,000.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment restricts motor vehicles towing another vehicle from using the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction, except when overtaking other vehicles or turning left.

Adds a restriction for motor vehicles towing trailers to not use the far left lane unless they are overtaking other vehicles or preparing to turn left.
Clarifies that buses and van pools operated by counties are exempt from these restrictions.

The amendment does not specify exact fines for violations, only stating 'no more than $' amounts which need to be determined.

Bill History

2026-02-20 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) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 668-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-19 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Cochran, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 02-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Traffic Code; Oversized Commercial Vehicles; Towing; Restrictions; Penalties
Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction, with exemptions. Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2026

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2026

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to transportation
.

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

����
SECTION
1
�
Section 291C-55,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

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"
[
[
]
�291C-55[
]
]
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Oversized commercial vehicles; prohibition
from using left lane.
�
(a)
�

Upon any roadway having three or more lanes for traffic moving in the
same direction, no commercial vehicle weighing ten thousand pounds or more
nor
any motor vehicle towing a vehicle or trailer, as defined in section 286-2,

shall be driven in the far left lane unless:

����
(1)
�
T
he commercial vehicle
or motor vehicle
towing a vehicle or trailer
is able to maintain speed with existing traffic
flow; and

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(2)
�
The commercial vehicle
or motor vehicle towing a vehicle or trailer

is in the process of overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the
same direction under the rules governing such movement.

����
(b)
�

This section shall not apply to [
commercial vehicles
]
:

����
(1)
�
Commercial
vehicles or motor vehicles towing a vehicle or trailer
occupying the left
lane for the purpose of turning left or exiting, or preparing to turn left or
exit[
.
]
; and

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(2)
�
Motor vehicles
used for public transit, school buses, and authorized emergency vehicles.

����
(c)
�
Violation of any of the provisions of this
section shall subject the violator to the following penalties:

����
(1)
�
For a first
violation, the person shall be fined not more than
$ ;

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(2)
�
For a second
violation under this section, the person shall be fined not more than
$ ; and

����
(3)
�
For a third or
subsequent violation committed within three years of a violation under this
section, the person shall be fined not more than
$ , attend a traffic
safety course, or both.

����
(d)
�
This section shall apply only to a county
with a population of five hundred thousand or more.

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[
(c)
]
(e)
�
For the purposes of this section,
"commercial vehicle" shall have the same meaning as in section
291-11.5.
�
"Commercial vehicle"
does not include buses or van pools operated by the counties."

����
SECTION 2.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Traffic
Code; Oversized Commercial Vehicles; Towing; Restrictions; Penalties

Description:

Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer
from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same
direction with exemptions.
�
Specifies
penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads
with three or more lanes moving in the same direction.
�
Applies restrictions and penalties to a
county with a population of 500,000 or more.

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