HB810 • 2026

RELATING TO NOISE POLLUTION.

Active

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

Sponsor: MATAYOSHI, CHUN, LA CHICA, LEE, M., MARTEN, SAYAMA, TAM, TARNAS
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and text do not provide specific details about the number of people who might use this right to sue helicopter owners and operators, making it uncertain how many will actually take legal action under this bill.

Rules to Address Helicopter Noise Violations

This bill allows individuals affected by helicopter noise violations to sue the owners or operators for damages and legal costs.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a private right of action for people who are harmed by violations of federal aviation laws related to helicopters.
Allows those affected to bring civil actions against helicopter owners or operators in violation, seeking three times actual damages or $1,000 per violation, whichever is greater.
Enables plaintiffs to recover litigation costs including reasonable attorney's fees if they win the lawsuit.

Who It Names or Affects

Individuals affected by violations of federal aviation laws related to helicopter noise
Owners and operators of helicopters that violate these laws

Terms To Know

Private right of action: The ability for individuals to sue someone in court when they feel their rights have been violated.
Civil action: A lawsuit between two or more parties where one party is asking the court to order another party to do something, stop doing something, or pay money.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not apply to helicopters owned by government agencies or used for emergency services.
It's unclear how many people will actually use this new right to sue helicopter owners and operators.

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 to sue helicopter owners or operators if they violate federal aviation laws, with the possibility of getting three times their actual damages or a minimum of $1,000 per violation.

Adds a new section allowing individuals to file civil lawsuits against helicopter owners or operators who break federal aviation rules.
Allows plaintiffs to recover up to triple their actual damages or a fixed amount of $1,000 for each violation, whichever is higher.
Enables the winning party in such lawsuits to also get back their legal costs and attorney fees.

The amendment does not specify when it will actually take effect, as it lists an unusual future date of July 1, 3000.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 663), recommending referral to JHA.
2025-02-13 H
The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Kusch; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 02-13-25 10:15AM 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 EEP with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 78) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EEP.
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, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Miyake; 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, EEP, JHA, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO NOISE POLLUTION.
Helicopters; Noise Pollution; Public Nuisance; Federal Aviation Act; Private Right of Action
Establishes a private right of action for any person aggrieved by a violation of the Federal Aviation Act and existing federal laws to bring a civil action against the owner or operator of the helicopter in violation and collect damages and litigation costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB810

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

810

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to noise pollution
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 342F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�342F-
�
Helicopters;
public nuisance; noise pollution; private right of action.
�
(a)
�
Any person who is aggrieved by a violation of the Federal
Aviation Act and existing federal laws shall have a right of action and may
bring a civil action against the owner or operator of the helicopter
in
the district court of the district in which the violation occurred to enjoin
further violations and to recover three

times the person's actual damages, or $1,000, for each violation, whichever sum
is greater.
�
A person bringing an action
pursuant to this subsection shall also
be entitled to recover the costs
of the suit, including reasonable attorney's fees.

����
(b)
�

This section shall not apply to a
ny helicopter:

����
(1)
�
Owned or
operated by a government agency or organization; or

����
(2)
�
Used to supply
emergency services such as emergency aeromedical services or search and rescue
services.
"

����
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.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Helicopters;
Noise Pollution; Public Nuisance; Federal Aviation Act; Private Right of Action

Description:

Establishes
a private right of action for any person aggrieved by a violation of the
Federal Aviation Act and existing federal laws to bring a civil action against
the owner or operator of the helicopter in violation and
collect damages
and litigation costs
.

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