HB2217 • 2026

RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.

Active

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

Sponsor: NAKAMURA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, MIYAKE, TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2026-03-12
Official status: Referred to TRS/HHS, JDC.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how the Department of Transportation will create rules or guidelines for adding the disability notation.

Driver's License and ID Card Disability Notation

This bill allows people to add a disability notation to their driver's license, permit, or civil identification card at no extra cost.

What This Bill Does

Allows applicants for driver's permits, licenses, or civil identification cards to request a nonapparent disability notation on these documents starting January 1, 2027.
Requires the Department of Transportation to establish public outreach efforts and coordinate with law enforcement agencies regarding the disability notation.

Who It Names or Affects

People applying for or renewing driver's permits, licenses, or civil identification cards who have a nonapparent disability.
Law enforcement officers who will receive training on how to interact with people who have the disability notation on their ID documents.

Terms To Know

Nonapparent Disability: A disability or health condition that is not immediately obvious or visible, such as autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairments, and other neurological conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what the notation will look like on ID documents.
It is unclear how many people will choose to add this notation to their identification cards.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment allows people with disabilities to request a special notation on their driver's license, permit, or civil identification card starting January 1, 2027.

People can ask for a disability notation on their driving documents and ID cards without extra cost.
The Department of Transportation must create rules and educate the public about these notations.
Law enforcement agencies need to include training on how to recognize and respond appropriately to individuals with disability notations.

The amendment text does not specify what kind of notation will be used or how it will look on identification documents.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment allows people with disabilities to request a special notation on their driver's license, permit, or civil identification card at no extra cost, starting January 1, 2027.

People can ask for a disability notation on their driving documents and ID cards without paying more money.
The Department of Transportation must create public awareness campaigns about the new disability notation option.
Law enforcement agencies will be trained to recognize and respond appropriately to individuals with disability notations.

The amendment does not specify what kind of disabilities qualify for the notation or how they should appear on documents.

Bill History

2026-03-12 S
Referred to TRS/HHS, JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 381).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (4) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1170-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-05 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama.
2026-03-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-05-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka 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. 664-26) 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, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Muraoka; Noes: none; and 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.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.
DOT; Driver's License; Permit; Civil Identification Card; Disability Notation
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. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2217

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2217

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to identification
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that people
with nonapparent disabilities, such as autism, spectrum disorder, cognitive
impairments, and other neurological or developmental conditions may appear to
be high functioning but may not react appropriately in interactions with law
enforcement.
�
A routine traffic stop or
emergency could escalate if the first responder is not aware of a hidden
disability.
�
These circumstances may lead
to misunderstandings or escalation that could otherwise be avoided if the
presence of a disability were known.

����
The
legislature further finds that other states have taken steps to allow a special
notation on an identification card to voluntarily indicate the existence of a
nonapparent disability to promote safer and more informed interactions.
�
The legislature believes that allowing
individuals to voluntarily indicate the presence of a nonapparent disability on
a form of identification can help promote awareness, understanding, and
appropriate responses during interactions with law enforcement and first
responders.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to promote safer and compassionate communication with a
special notion on a driver's license or identification card for people with
nonapparent disabilities.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part VI to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�286-
�
Nonapparent
disability; identification.
�
(a)
�
Beginning January 1, 2027, an applicant for an
instruction permit, provisional license, driver's license, limited purpose
driver's license, limited purpose provisional driver's license, or limited
purpose instruction permit, including any renewals, may request a notation on
the applicable permit, provisional license, or driver's license that the
individual has a nonapparent disability, at no additional cost.

����
(b)
�

No applicant shall be required to submit proof of the applicant's
nonapparent disability.

����
(c)
�

The examiner of drivers shall not deny an application for a permit or
license because the nonapparent disability selected by the applicant does not
match that indicated on any other document.

����
(d)
�
The department of transportation shall adopt
rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this section.

����
(e)
�
For purposes of this section,
"nonapparent disability" means a disability or health condition that
is not immediately obvious or visible, including developmental disabilities or
intellectual disabilities.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part XVI to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�286-
�
Nonapparent disability; identification.
�
(a)
�

Beginning January 1, 2027, an applicant for a civil identification card,
including any renewals, may request a notation on the civil identification card
that the individual has a nonapparent disability, at no additional cost.

����
(b)
�

No applicant shall be required to submit proof of the applicant's
nonapparent disability.

����
(c)
�

The examiner of drivers shall not deny an application for a civil
identification card because the nonapparent disability selected by the
applicant does not match that indicated on any other document.

����
(d)
�
The department of transportation shall adopt
rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this section.

����
(e)
�
For purposes of this section,
"nonapparent disability" means a disability or health condition that
is not immediately obvious or visible, including developmental disabilities or
intellectual disabilities.
"

����
SECTION 4.
�
The department of transportation shall:

����
(1)
�
Consult with the
disability and communication access board with respect to the design of the
nonapparent disability notation;

����
(2)
�
Establish public
outreach efforts to educate the general public on the availability of the
nonapparent disability notation; and

����
(3)
�
Coordinate with the department of law
enforcement and each county police department to ensure that annual training
for law enforcement officers includes procedures for recognizing and
appropriately responding to individuals with nonapparent disabilities notations
on their permit, driver's license, or civil identification card.

����
SECTION 5.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Driver's
License; Permit; Civil Identification Card; Nonapparent Disability

Description:

Allows
applicants for driver's permit, driver's license, or civil identification cards
to request a nonapparent disability notation on their permit, license, or
identification card.

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