HB 531 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.

HB 531 would authorize Hawaii to issue special license plates featuring recognition of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. These plates would allow vehicle owners to display a dedicated plate design supporting the cancer center, with the program becoming effective July 1, 2030. The bill creates a new plate option without altering existing vehicle registration rules or imposing costs on the state. It directly affects vehicle owners who choose to purchase these plates as a form of public recognition for the cancer center.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB531_HD1 → HB531_SD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated from the House version (HD1) to the Senate version (SD1), reflecting standard legislative progression. The text includes minor formatting adjustments, such as adding a 'S.D. 1' designation and updating version numbers, while the core policy content regarding special license plates for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center remains substantively unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it continues to authorize special license plates for Cancer Center residents.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill version numbers and metadata to reflect the transition from House to Senate processing.

Added 'S.D. 1' designation and adjusted formatting in the header and section titles.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1334) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 18, 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 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, WAM.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 22).

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 608), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 183) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Lee, M., Sayama; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to CAA, HED, FIN, referral sheet 7

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to CAA, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

17 primary · 0 co-sponsors