SB1096 • 2026

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.

Active

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

Sponsor: LEE, C., CHANG, ELEFANTE, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO, MCKELVEY, RHOADS, Kanuha, Moriwaki, Wakai
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
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 LICENSE PLATES.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.
License Plate Flipping Device; Prohibition; Fine; Motor Vehicles Prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices.
Establishes a $2,000 fine for each separate violation.
Effective 7/1/2050.

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.

Amendments

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

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB1096 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB1096 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
1096 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES .

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-06 H
Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 19
2025-03-06 H
Pass First Reading
2025-03-04 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 258) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-03-04 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-02-28 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 S
Reported from CPN/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 897) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2025-02-21 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.
2025-02-21 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-18 S
The committee(s) on CPN/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-21-25 10:10AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2025-02-11 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to CPN/JDC.
2025-02-11 S
Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 258) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to CPN/JDC.
2025-02-06 S
The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.
2025-02-03 S
The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-01-23 S
Referred to TCA, CPN/JDC.
2025-01-21 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-01-17 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.
License Plate Flipping Device; Prohibition; Fine; Motor Vehicles
Prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices. Establishes a $2,000 fine for each separate violation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1096

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1096

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to License plates
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that license
plate flipping devices are manual, electric, or mechanical devices that can be
installed on motor vehicles in order to switch between two or more license
plates or hide a license plate from view.
�

The legislature further finds that these devices can be used to prevent
law enforcement from identifying a vehicle.
�

These devices create a significant nuisance for law enforcement
officials and pose a threat to public safety.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the use of license plate flipping
devices.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�286-
�
License plate flipping devices;
prohibited.
�
(a)
�

No person shall operate a motor vehicle with, possess, purchase,
install, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise distribute a license plate flipping
device.

����
(b)
�

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any person who
violates this section shall be fined no more than $2,000 for each separate
violation.

����
(c)
�

For the purpose of this section "license plate flipping
device" means a manual, electric, or mechanical device designed or adapted
to be installed on a motor vehicle that:

����
(1)
�
Switches between two or more license plates
for the purpose of allowing a motor vehicle operator to change the license plate
displayed on the operator's motor vehicle; or

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(2)
�
Hides a license plate from view by flipping
the license plate so that the plate number is not visible.
"

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SECTION 3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

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SECTION
4.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

License
Plate Flipping Device; Prohibition; Fine; Motor Vehicles

Description:

Prohibits
the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation,
sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices.
�
Establishes a $2,000 fine for each separate
violation.

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