RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Budget Labor

Active

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

Sponsor: KILA, LAMOSAO, MARTEN, TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2026-04-17
Official status: Re-Referred to TRS/PSM, WAM/JDC.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date of the bill is listed as July 1, 3000 in the official summary text, which seems to be an error.

Rules for Automated Speed Cameras

This bill allows certain state employees to review images from automated speed cameras and provides funding for a program that uses these cameras.

What This Bill Does

Allows authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement, in addition to county police departments, to inspect recorded images produced by automated speed enforcement systems.
Appropriates funds from the State Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation to establish and implement an Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program.

Who It Names or Affects

People who drive on roads where automated speed enforcement systems are installed.
The Department of Law Enforcement, county police departments, and the Department of Transportation.

Terms To Know

Automated Speed Enforcement Systems: Cameras that automatically take pictures or videos when a car is going too fast on certain roads.
Prima facie evidence: Evidence that is accepted as true until proven otherwise in court.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the appropriated funds will be spent.
It's unclear if this program will start on July 1, 2025 or another date.

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 certain employees from the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to inspect and provide certificates based on evidence collected by automated speed enforcement systems, and it allocates funds for setting up such a system.

Expands who can review and certify evidence from automated speed cameras to include authorized employees from the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement.
Allocates money from state revenues to establish and run an automated speed enforcement program.

The amendment specifies a future effective date (July 1, 3000) which seems unusual and might be a placeholder or error.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment allows employees from the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to review images from automated speed enforcement systems, in addition to county police departments.

Expands the definition of 'reviewing entity' to include authorized employees of the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement.
Updates sections related to evidence collection and verification for traffic violations to reflect the new entities that can review images from automated speed enforcement systems.

The amendment does not specify how many funds are being appropriated, only stating 'or so much thereof as may be necessary'.
The effective date of July 1, 3000 is noted but seems unrealistic and likely a placeholder or error.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment allows authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement to review recorded images from automated speed enforcement systems, in addition to county police departments.

Adds a new definition for 'reviewing entity' that includes authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement.
Amends Section 291L-4(c) to specify that certificates based on inspection by the reviewing entity (including those from the Department of Law Enforcement) are prima facie evidence in traffic violation proceedings.
Modifies Section 291L-5(a) and (d) to clarify that the reviewing entity, which now includes employees of the Department of Law Enforcement, must verify the validity of recorded images before mailing summonses or citations.

The amendment text does not specify how many authorized employees are involved in this process.
It is unclear what specific actions these new reviewing entities can take beyond verifying and inspecting recorded images.

Bill History

2026-04-17 S
Re-Referred to TRS/PSM, WAM/JDC.
2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-25 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 225.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 3:30PM in Conference Room 411.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 2:00PM in Conference Room 411.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 329.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 11:30AM in Conference Room 329.
2025-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 329.
2025-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 10:35AM; Conference Room 329.
2025-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 862).
2025-04-22 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Wakai, Rhoads, DeCoite Co-Chairs.
2025-04-15 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).
2025-04-14 H
House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Tarnas, Grandinetti Co-Chairs; Pierick.
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 662) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-08 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 21; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 4 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, McKelvey, San Buenaventura). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
One Day Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Reported from WAM/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1680) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2025-04-01 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Lee, C..
2025-04-01 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-03-21 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC.
2025-03-21 S
Reported from TCA/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1309) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.
2025-03-10 S
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-10 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.
2025-03-07 S
The committee(s) on TCA/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-10-25 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2025-03-04 S
Referred to TCA/PSM, WAM/JDC.
2025-03-04 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-04 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 116).
2025-02-28 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Amato, Garcia, Kong, Souza voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 930), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-21 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Alcos, Ward.
2025-02-19 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 02-21-25 12:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Garcia, Souza voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 750) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-13 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-02-10 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-13-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Garcia, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 77) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-01-28 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; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
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, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
DLE; DOT; Automated Speed Enforcement Systems; Violations; Evidence; State Highway Fund; Appropriations ($)
Allows authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement, in addition to county police departments, to perform certain actions in reviewing recorded images produced by automated speed enforcement systems. Appropriates funds from the State Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation to establish and implement the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB697

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

697

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to Transportation
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 291L-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

����
"
(c)
�
Proof of a violation of section 291C-108
shall be evidenced by information obtained from an automated speed enforcement
system authorized pursuant to this chapter.
�

A certificate, sworn to or affirmed by the reviewing [
county police
department,
]
entity,
or a facsimile thereof, based upon inspection
of any clear and unobstructed photographs, microphotographs, video, or other
recorded images produced by the system, shall be prima facie evidence of the
facts contained therein.
�
Any
photographs, microphotographs, video, or other recorded images shall be
available for inspection in any proceeding to adjudicate the liability for that
violation.

����
For the
purposes of this subsection "reviewing entity" means a county police
department or authorized employee of the department of transportation or
department of law enforcement.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
establishment and implementation of the automated speed
enforcement systems program
.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION
3.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Automated
Speed Enforcement System; Violations; Evidence; DOT; DLE; Appropriation

Description:

Allows
authorized employees of the Department of Transportation and Department of Law
Enforcement to inspect and provide a certificate of certain evidence of speed
limit violations obtained by automated speed enforcement systems.
�
Appropriates funds to the Department of
Transportation to establish and implement the automated speed enforcement
systems program.

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