SB 485 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Summary

Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent. Exempts the light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices for side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows in sedans. Repeals the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 11, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB485 → SB485_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill modernizes Hawaii's motor vehicle registration and sun screening device regulations. It removes the requirement for front license plates on vehicles, updates fees for plate reassignments, and adjusts exemptions for sun screening devices to allow darker tints on certain windows. The changes aim to simplify vehicle registration procedures and align sun screening exemptions with current safety standards.

Scope change

The bill expands exemptions for sun screening devices by removing the 35% light transmittance minimum requirement for front side windows and rear windows, while maintaining the exemption for rear windows on vans and trucks. It also removes the front plate requirement that previously applied to all vehicles.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for vehicles to display a front license plate, allowing owners to use only a rear plate.

Adjusted sun screening device exemptions to allow darker tints on front side windows (from 35% to 20% light transmittance) and removed the 35% minimum requirement for rear windows on sedans.

FISCAL

Maintained the $5 fee for reassigning license plates to another vehicle owned by the same person.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2050.

DEFINITION

Clarified registration procedures for new vehicles with temporary plates and updated references to plate display requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 254) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 4, 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

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors