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SB1094 • 2026

RELATING TO VEHICLES.

RELATING TO VEHICLES.

Active

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

Sponsor
LEE, C., RHOADS, San Buenaventura
Last action
2026-01-21
Official status
Re-Referred to TRS, JDC.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO VEHICLES.

RELATING TO VEHICLES.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO VEHICLES.
  • Motor Vehicles; Dual Frequency Sirens Requires that any new motor vehicle permitted by law to be equipped with a siren, whether purchased or contracted in the State to be equipped with dual frequency sirens.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-21 S

    Re-Referred to TRS, JDC.

  2. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  3. 2025-02-06 S

    The committee on TCA deferred the measure.

  4. 2025-02-04 S

    The committee(s) on TCA deferred the measure until 02-06-25 3:01PM; Conference Room 224.

  5. 2025-01-31 S

    The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

  6. 2025-01-23 S

    Referred to TCA, JDC.

  7. 2025-01-21 S

    Passed First Reading.

  8. 2025-01-17 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO VEHICLES.
Motor Vehicles; Dual Frequency Sirens
Requires that any new motor vehicle permitted by law to be equipped with a siren, whether purchased or contracted in the State to be equipped with dual frequency sirens.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB1094

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1094

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to VEHICLES
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that noise pollution is a serious problem affecting quality
of life, particularly in urban areas.
�
Ambulance
and emergency vehicle sirens, which operate at all times of the day, exceed the
eighty decibel measurement at which damage can occur to the human ear and
continue to be a cause for concern in communities throughout the State.
�
The legislature finds that traditional
"wail sirens" sirens, and dual frequency, or "high-low
sirens", reach the same decibel and are equally audible to anyone in the
immediate area.
�
However, the lower pitch
of dual frequency sirens delivers a less piercing noise, which travels more
effectively through the immediate area, but is not as audible at longer
distances. This effectively reduces noise pollution and negative mental health
effects, especially in urban areas.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
require that any motor vehicle permitted to be equipped with sirens purchased
or contracted in the State be equipped with dual frequency sirens.

����
SECTION 2.
�

Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section
to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�321-
�
Motor
vehicle sirens.
�
(a)
�
Beginning January 1, 2026, every new motor vehicle permitted by law to be
equipped with a siren, whether purchased or contracted, shall be equipped with
a dual frequency siren.

����
(b)
�
For the purposes of this section "dual
frequency siren" means a pneumatic two-tone siren that consists of two
sets of air horns, one high pitched and one low pitched, or similar technology.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Motor
Vehicles; Dual Frequency Sirens

Description:

Requires that any new motor vehicle permitted by law to be
equipped with a siren, whether purchased or contracted in the State to be
equipped with dual frequency sirens.

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