HB368 • 2026

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SUN SCREENING DEVICES.

Healthcare

Active

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

Sponsor: EVSLIN
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on how the exemption will be enforced or what constitutes 'eye sensitivity due to a medical condition.'

Rules for Sun Screening Devices in Cars

This bill allows people with eye sensitivity due to a medical condition to use darker sun screening devices on their car windows, as long as they have proof from a doctor every two years.

What This Bill Does

Allows certain motor vehicle owners who have light sensitivity of the eyes due to a medical condition to install sun screening devices that are darker than usual.
Requires these people to get documentation from a licensed physician every two years to prove their need for special sun screening devices.

Who It Names or Affects

People who have eye sensitivity due to medical conditions and own motor vehicles.

Terms To Know

Light transmittance: The amount of light that can pass through a material, measured as a percentage.
Glazing material: The glass or transparent plastic used in car windows.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill only affects people with documented medical conditions and does not apply to the general public.
It is unclear how this exemption will be enforced by law enforcement officers during traffic stops.

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 light sensitivity due to a medical condition to use sun screening devices in their vehicles, provided they meet certain requirements.

Adds an exemption for individuals with documented light sensitivity from using sun screening devices that have a minimum light transmittance of 20% when used with the glazing material.
Requires these individuals to provide updated documentation every two years from a licensed physician.

The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-11 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) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-11 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 368) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-01-30 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica.
2025-01-28 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 01-30-25 10:30AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-28 H
The committee(s) on TRN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 01-30-25 at 10:30 am.
2025-01-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 01-28-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SUN SCREENING DEVICES.
Motor Vehicles; Safety; Equipment; Sun Screening Devices; Window Tinting; Exemptions
Exempts from restrictions on light transmittance percentages, up to a certain percent, of certain motor vehicle sun screening devices for persons having light sensitivity of the eyes due to a medical condition. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB368

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

368

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to motor vehicle sun screening devices
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section
291-21.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to
read as follows:

����
"(d)
�
This section shall not apply to:

����
(1)
�
Rearview mirrors;

����
(2)
�
Adjustable
nontransparent sun visors [
which
]
that
are mounted forward of the
side windows and are not attached to the glazing material;

����
(3)
�
Signs, stickers,
or other materials [
which
]
that
are displayed in a seven-inch
square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver
or signs, stickers, or other materials [
which
]
that
are displayed
in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver;

����
(4)
�
Rear trunk lid
handle or hinges;

����
(5)
�
Window wipers and
window wiper motors;

����
(6)
�
Transparent sun
screening film materials [
which
]
that
are installed, affixed, or
applied along the top edge of the windshield so long as [
such
]
the

materials do not encroach upon the AS-1 portion of the windshield as provided
by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 or no lower than four inches below
the top of the windshield, when measured from the middle point of the bottom
edge of the top windshield [
moulding
]
molding
if no AS-1 markings
can be found in the left or right upper margin of the windshield;

����
(7)
�
Sun screening
devices for front side wing vents and windows [
which,
]
that,
when
used in conjunction with the glazing material have a light transmittance of no
less than [
thirty-five
]
twenty-five
per cent plus or minus six
per cent;

����
(8)
�
Sun screening
devices for side windows necessary for driving visibility [
which
]
that

are to the rear of the driver and for rear windows necessary for driving
visibility [
which,
]
that,
when used in conjunction with the
glazing material, have a light transmittance of no less than [
thirty-five
]

twenty-five
per cent plus or minus six per cent;

����
(9)
�
Side windows [
which
]

that
are to the rear of the driver and rear windows on vans, minivans,
trucks, or buses; provided that the vehicles are equipped with rearview mirrors
on both sides;

���
(10)
�
Privacy drapes,
curtains, or blinds, or any combination, installed on the interior of motor
homes; [
or
]

���
(11)
�
Transparent sun
screening materials, when applied to the AS-1 portion of the windshield, which
meets the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205[
.
]
;
or

���
(12)
�
For motor
vehicles owned by persons having light sensitivity of the eyes or skin due to a
medical condition, as evidenced by documentation that shall be updated every
two years from a physician licensed under chapter 453, and that cannot be
resolved with eye protection devices, any sun screening devices that, when used
in conjunction with the glazing material, have a light transmittance of no less
than twenty per cent; provided that all side wing vents and side rear windows
to which a tint has been applied in excess of the level permitted under
paragraphs (7) and (8) shall be rolled down when the motor vehicle is stopped
by a law enforcement officer at a traffic stop.
"

����
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:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Motor Vehicles; Safety; Equipment; Sun Screening Devices;
Window Tinting; Exemptions

Description:

Exempts from
restrictions on light transmittance percentages, up to a certain percent, of
certain motor vehicle sun screening devices for persons having light
sensitivity of the eyes due to a medical condition.

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