SR 197 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO ASSESS ISSUES RELATED TO THE AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENT OPTIONS FROM TOW COMPANIES.

This Senate Resolution (SR 197) requests Hawaii's Office of Consumer Protection to form a task force to examine payment options offered by towing companies. The task force will assess challenges vehicle owners face when retrieving towed vehicles, such as limited cash availability or lack of credit/debit card access. The resolution requires the Office to report findings and potential legislative recommendations to the legislature by early 2026. It does not change current laws but seeks to evaluate whether new requirements (like on-site ATMs) could improve accessibility for vehicle owners. The resolution directly affects towing companies and vehicle owners in Hawaii.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

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What changed between versions

SR197 → SR197_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a Senate Resolution urging towing companies to install ATMs into a formal Senate Bill requesting the Office of Consumer Protection to convene a task force to study payment access issues at tow companies. This shifts the approach from direct regulation to a study-based recommendation process.

Scope change

Changed from a direct resolution requesting towing companies to install ATMs to a formal bill requesting the Office of Consumer Protection to convene a task force to study payment options at tow companies.

REQUIREMENT

Changed from requiring towing companies to install on-site ATMs to requesting the Office of Consumer Protection to convene a task force to assess payment options.

TIMELINE

Added requirement for task force to submit findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provision for the Office of Consumer Protection to invite stakeholders to be members of the task force as deemed appropriate.

SCOPE

Changed transmission recipients from Director of Transportation and county/city directors to Director of Transportation and Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted as amended (SD1). Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) DeCorte).

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from TCA/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1636) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Apr 1, 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 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 04-01-25 10:04AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA/CPN.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor