RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.

Budget Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: MIYAKE, AMATO, CHUN, EVSLIN, GARRETT, GRANDINETTI, KAHALOA, KILA, LAMOSAO, MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, OLDS, POEPOE, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TODD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the exact amount for the fundraising fee.

Special Number Plates for UH Cancer Center

This bill allows the creation of special number plates to recognize the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, with funds raised going towards the center.

What This Bill Does

Allows the director of finance to issue special number plates that recognize the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.
Requires the design of these plates to be similar in shape and size to regular state plates but must not obstruct visibility or contain inappropriate content.
Sets a fundraising fee for the special plates, with revenue going into a separate account for the UH Cancer Center.
Gives the director of finance the authority to revoke plates if fewer than 150 are issued within three years.

Who It Names or Affects

Residents who want to purchase special number plates recognizing the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.
The state and county governments responsible for issuing these plates.
The UH Cancer Center, which will receive funds from the fundraising fees.

Terms To Know

Special Number Plates: License plates that recognize a specific organization or cause, in this case, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.
Fundraising Fee: An additional fee charged for special number plates to raise money for the UH Cancer Center.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much the fundraising fee will be.
It is unclear if there are any limits on the design of the special number plates beyond what is stated in the legislation.

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 the issuance of special number plates to recognize the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, with fees collected going towards fundraising for the center.

Adds a new section allowing residents to apply for special number plates recognizing the University of Hawaii Cancer Center after paying required fees.
Establishes design requirements and restrictions for these special number plates, ensuring they do not obstruct visibility or violate any laws.
Specifies that fundraising fees collected from the issuance and renewal of these plates will be directed towards the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.

The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems to be a placeholder or error as it is far in the future.
Details on how the fundraising fees are determined and distributed are left to the discretion of the director of finance.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment allows the issuance of special number plates to recognize the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, with fees collected going towards fundraising for the center.

Adds a new section allowing residents to apply for special number plates recognizing the University of Hawaii Cancer Center after paying required fees.
Establishes design requirements and restrictions for these special number plates.
Specifies that fundraising fees will be added to cover administrative costs and support the cancer center, with revenue going into a separate budget account.

The bill specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems incorrect or possibly a placeholder.
Details on specific fundraising fee amounts are not provided in the amendment text.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-21 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-03-21 S
Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1334) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-03-18 S
The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-14 S
The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-04 S
Referred to TCA, WAM.
2025-02-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-02-28 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 22).
2025-02-27 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-27 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 865), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-13 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-13 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 608), recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-12 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-06 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ward excused (1).
2025-02-06 H
Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 183) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2025-02-05 H
The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda.
2025-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CAA on Wednesday, 02-05-25 10:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-28 H
Re-referred to CAA, HED, FIN, referral sheet 7
2025-01-21 H
Referred to CAA, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.
Motor Vehicles; Special Number Plates; UH Cancer Center
Authorizes the issuance of special number plates to recognize the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB531

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

531

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to special number plates
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�249-
�
Special
number plates; university of Hawaii cancer center; authorized.
�
(a)
�
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the
director of finance shall issue to any registered owner of a motor vehicle, who
is a resident of the State and has completed the application and paid the
required fees, special number plates for the registered owner's motor vehicle recognizing
the university of Hawaii cancer center.

����
(b)
�
The director of finance of the city and
county of Honolulu, in consultation with the directors of finance of the
counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii; the chiefs of police of the city and
county of Honolulu and the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii; and the director
of
the university of
Hawaii cancer center
shall establish a special number plate design that:

����
(1)
�
C
ontains
words, images, or both, that indicate that the special number plate is issued
to recognize the
university
of Hawaii cancer center
;

����
(2)
�
Is

similar in shape and size to the uniform state number plate prescribed by law;
and

����
(3)
�
Does not
obstruct the visibility of the number or letters or any other information that
is required by law to be on a number plate, and is readily identifiable and
distinguishable under actual traffic
conditions.

����
(c)
�
The special number plate design shall not:

����
(1)
�
Infringe upon
or otherwise violate any trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright, or
other proprietary or property right;

����
(2)
�
Represent any
obscene or degrading image, idea, word, or phrase;

����
(3)
�
Advertise or
endorse a product, brand, or service that is provided for sale;

����
(4)
�
Promote any
religious belief; or

����
(5)
�
Promote any
philosophy based on prejudice or that is contrary to state civil rights laws.

����
(d)
�

Each

special number plate shall b
e securely fastened to the motor vehicle in
lieu of the uniform state number plate.

����
(e)
�
The director of finance shall charge a
special number plate fee at least equal to the county's cost of providing the
special number plate and administrative costs, if any, plus a fundraising fee
to be determined by the director of finance in consultation with the director
of the
university of
Hawaii cancer center
.
�
The
fundraising fee shall be in addition to any other state or county fees
collected for a motor vehicle registration or license plate.

����
(f)
�
The director of finance may charge an
additional fundraising fee, of the same or a different amount as the
fundraising fee established pursuant to subsection (e), for the renewal of a
special number plate.
�
If an additional
fundraising fee is implemented pursuant to this subsection, the director of
finance shall not renew and instead shall revoke the special number plate of
the registered owner of a motor vehicle who fails to pay the additional
fundraising fee imposed by this subsection.

����
(g)
�
The revenue generated by the fundraising
fees, or a portion of the revenue generated by the fundraising fees as
determined by the director of finance, shall be deposited in the name of the
university of Hawaii cancer center
in
a separate county budget account.
�
The
director of finance shall determine the most efficient means of directing to
the
university of
Hawaii cancer center
the net revenue generated by the fundraising fees
.

����
(h)
�
The director of finance may revoke all
special number plates issued pursuant to this section if the total number of
registered owners of motor vehicles who obtain the special number plates is
less than one hundred fifty within three years of issuance of the first special
number plate.

����
(i)
�
Nothing in this section shall be construed to
apply to any special number plates issued pursuant to section 249-9.2.

����
(j)
�
For the purposes of this section, unless a
different meaning appears from the context, "special number plate"
means a license plate that recognizes the
university of Hawaii cancer center
.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Motor
Vehicles; Special Number Plates; UH Cancer Center

Description:

Authorizes
the issuance of special number plates to recognize the University of Hawaii
Cancer Center.

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