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HB387 • 2026

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the penalties or enforcement mechanisms.

Making Drunk Driving Injuries a Felony

This bill changes the law to make it a felony if someone causes injuries while driving drunk.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include bodily injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Drivers who cause injuries while driving under the influence
  • Victims of injuries caused by drunk or drugged drivers

Terms To Know

Felony
A serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence.
Negligent injury in the first degree
Causing serious harm through careless actions, now including injuries caused by intoxicated drivers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how it will be enforced or what penalties exactly will apply.
  • It is unclear if this change will reduce the number of accidents caused by drunk driving.

Amendments

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

HD1

1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment adds a new part (c) to the law about negligent injury in the first degree, making it an offense if someone causes bodily injury while driving negligently under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

  • Adds a new section (c) to the existing law that makes it illegal for a person to cause bodily injury to another by operating a vehicle negligently while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • The amendment text does not specify what constitutes 'bodily injury' or provide details on how this new section will be enforced or interpreted.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-02-13 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, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).

  3. 2025-02-13 H

    Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 551) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  4. 2025-02-11 H

    The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

  5. 2025-02-07 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 02-11-25 9:30AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  6. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 1

  7. 2025-01-17 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  8. 2025-01-16 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.
Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Criminal Offenses; Negligent Injury
Amends the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include bodily injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB387

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

387

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO HIGHWAY SAFETY
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 707-705, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�707-705
�
Negligent injury in the first degree.
�
(1)
�
A
person commits the offense of negligent injury in the first degree if that
person causes:

����
(a)
�
Serious bodily injury to another person
by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner; [
or
]

����
(b)
�
Substantial bodily injury to a
vulnerable user by the operation of a [
[
]vehicle[
]
] in a
negligent manner[
.
]
; or

����
(c)
�
Bodily
injury to another person by operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner while
under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

����
(2)
�

Negligent injury in the first degree is a class C felony."

����
SECTION 2.
�

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

����
SECTION 3.
�

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

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

By Request

Report Title:

Honolulu
Prosecuting Attorney Package; Criminal Offenses; Negligent Injury

Description:

Amends
the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include injuries
negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers.

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