HB 229 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Summary

Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction with exemptions. Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Issues: ✗ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Mar 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB229_HD1 → HB229_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten from a speed restriction law for heavy vehicles to a lane usage restriction law. The original version limited speeds for vehicles with three or more axles or weighing over 10,000 pounds, while the new version prohibits these vehicles from using the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes. The new version also adds towing restrictions and clarifies exemptions for public transit and emergency vehicles.

Scope change

Changed from statewide speed restrictions for heavy vehicles to lane usage restrictions for oversized commercial vehicles and towing vehicles in counties with 500,000+ population

REQUIREMENT

Replaced speed limit restrictions with far left lane driving prohibitions for commercial vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more

Added restrictions on motor vehicles towing trailers from using the far left lane

ENFORCEMENT

Changed penalty structure from fixed fines ($150-$350) to unspecified fine amounts with added requirement for traffic safety courses on third offense

EXEMPTIONS

Added specific exemptions for public transit, school buses, and authorized emergency vehicles

DEFINITION

Added definition of commercial vehicle referencing section 291-11.5 and excluding county-operated buses and van pools

ELIGIBILITY

Changed applicability from counties with 500,000+ population to include counties with less than 500,000 that adopt ordinances

Floor votes · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

45–4

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 51

Mar 4, 2025

D Democratic41

41 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

4 Yea 4 Nay 2

40% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1344) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

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.

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA/EIG, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 201).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Shimizu, Souza voting no (4) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kahaloa.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 381) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor