HB2027 • 2026

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Active

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

Sponsor: KILA, MURAOKA, POEPOE, TAKENOUCHI
Last action: 2026-02-19
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 none excused (0).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact fines for violations related to shoulder lane use and high-occupancy vehicle lanes are not detailed in the bill text.

Rules for Transportation

This bill sets new rules about driving on road shoulders, handling vehicles with expired registrations, reporting requirements, fines for out-of-state vehicle registration violations, and penalties for using high-occupancy lanes incorrectly.

What This Bill Does

It stops cars from driving on the shoulder of roads unless it's allowed by special circumstances or hours set by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The DOT and police can take away vehicles with registrations that are three years expired if they're parked in public places. If a vehicle is five years overdue, it can be seized and sold.
It requires the DOT to send yearly reports about enforcing these rules to the Legislature.
It raises fines for people who bring out-of-state cars into Hawaii without registering them properly.
It sets new penalties for breaking rules about using high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Who It Names or Affects

Drivers and car owners in Hawaii
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and local police departments

Terms To Know

Shoulder lanes: The area next to the road where cars can sometimes drive or park.
Expired registration: When a car's license plate and other paperwork are not up-to-date with the state’s requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens to cars that are seized but have valid ownership proven.
It is unclear how many vehicles will be affected by these new rules.
The exact fines for driving on shoulder lanes and using high-occupancy vehicle lanes incorrectly are not detailed.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment adds new rules about driving on road shoulders, impounding vehicles with expired registrations, and sets fines for violations related to high occupancy vehicle lanes and out-of-state motor vehicles.

Prohibits driving on the shoulder of a roadway except in certain circumstances and imposes fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 for violations.
Allows the Department of Transportation and law enforcement officers to impound vehicles with expired registrations that have not been registered for three consecutive years or more under specific conditions.
Increases the fine for out-of-state motor vehicle owners who fail to register their vehicles in Hawaii from a minimum of $500 to no less than $500 and no more than $1,000 per violation.

The exact maximum penalty amount for violations related to high occupancy vehicle lanes is not specified.
Details on how the Department of Transportation will enforce these new rules are left undefined in this amendment.

Bill History

2026-02-19 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 none excused (0).
2026-02-19 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 548-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-17 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick.
2026-02-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:30AM 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.
DOT; Counties; Motor Vehicles; Shoulder Lanes; Registration; Expired Registration; Enforcement; Penalties; Out-of-state Motor Vehicles; High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes; Violations; Fines
Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department of Transportation, law enforcement officers, and other approved persons to impound vehicles with expired registrations of three years or more, under certain conditions. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Increases the fine amount for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in the State. Establishes minimum and maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2027

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2027

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.
�
Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�
291C-
�
Shoulder lanes; use prohibited.
�
(a)
�

Except as otherwise provided in section 291C-26 or as permitted during
hours designated by the department, no vehicle shall be driven on the shoulder
of a roadway.

����
(b)
�
Every person who violates this section shall
be subject to the following penalties:

����
(1)
�
For a first
infraction, or any infraction not preceded within one year by a prior violation
of this section, a fine of
$ ;

����
(2)
�
For a second or
subsequent violation committed within one year of the first violation, a fine
of $ .

����
�291C-
�
Expired registration; enforcement;
penalties.
�
(a)
�

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department of
transportation and the county police departments may:

����
(1)
�
For a vehicle
with an expired registration of three years or more that is parked on a public
roadway or in a commercial parking lot that is open to the public, impound the
vehicle, during which time the vehicle shall be subject to redemption by its
owner by payment of an updated registration, together with any penalties
incurred and the cost of storage and other charges incident to the impoundment
of the vehicle; and

����
(2)
�
For a vehicle with an
expired registration of five years or more that is parked on a public roadway
or in a commercial parking lot that is open to the public, seize and dispose of
the vehicle,
during which time the vehicle shall be subject to
redemption by its owner by payment of an updated registration, together with
any penalties incurred and the cost of storage and other charges incident to
the seizure of the vehicle
.
�
If the owner of the vehicle fails to redeem
the vehicle within ten days after seizure, the vehicle shall be disposed of in
the same manner as when a vehicle is put up for public auction and for which no
bid is received; provided that if no valid ownership is proven, a fifteen-day
notice shall be made available to the public prior to the disposal of the
vehicle.

����
(b)
�
A law enforcement officer may use a traffic
stop for the purpose of verifying the registration status of a vehicle in the
enforcement of subsection (a).

����
(c)
�
Enforcement of this section shall not apply
to vehicles on private property that is not open for public use.

����
(d)
�
The department of transportation and the
county police departments may establish rules as necessary for the enforcement
of this section.

����
(e)
�
The department of transportation shall submit
an annual report to the legislature detailing by county the enforcement
activity of this section no later than twenty days prior to each regular
session
.
"

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 286-61,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�286-61
�
Penalty.
�
Any person who violates sections 286-41,
286-42, 286-44.5 to 286-56.5, and 286-58 to 286-60 shall be fined not less than
$5 nor more than $1,000; provided that any corporate owner of a motor vehicle
who fails to register a motor vehicle as required by section 286-41(a)
following a transfer of the vehicle between counties shall be fined $1,000 for
each violation[
.
]
; provided further that any owner of an out-of-state
motor vehicle brought into the State who fails to register the out-of-state
motor vehicle pursuant to section 286-41, 286-50, or 286-54 shall be fined no
less than $ and no
more than $ for
each violation.
�
Any person who
violates section 286-43, 286-44, or 286-57 shall be fined not less than $5 and
not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both."

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section
291C-227, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�291C-227
�
Penalty.
�
A person who violates any provision of this
part shall [
for a first conviction thereof be fined $75; for conviction of a
second offense committed within one year after the date of the first offense,
the person shall be fined $150; for conviction of a third or subsequent offense
committed within one year after the date of the first offense, the person shall
be fined $200.
]
, for each conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of no
less than $250 and no more than $500.
"

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

����
SECTION 5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 6.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOT;
Counties; Motor Vehicles; Shoulder Lanes; Registration; Expired Registration;
Enforcement; Penalties; Out-of-state Motor Vehicles; High Occupancy Vehicle
Lanes; Violations; Fines

Description:

Prohibits
vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain
circumstances.
�
Authorizes the Department
of Transportation and county police departments to impound vehicles with
expired registrations of three years or more and seize and dispose of vehicles
with expired registrations of five years or more, under certain conditions.
�
Requires an annual report to the
Legislature.
�
Increases the fine amount
for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in
the State.
�
Establishes minimum and
maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high
occupancy vehicle lanes.

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