HB 532 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLES.

Summary

Clarifies that proof that a transferor has filed required notice forms serves as a complete defense to any action brought against the transferor for an act or omission, civil or criminal, arising out of the use, operation, or abandonment of the vehicle by another person. Requires, by July 1, 2026, the courts to create new forms permitting transferors to respond to actions arising out of the use, operation, or abandonment of transferred vehicles. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB532 → HB532_HD1 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill significantly rewrites the vehicle title transfer process by adding new protections for transferors, such as a complete defense against liability once they file the required notice forms. It also clarifies rules for non-driving vehicle transfers, transfers by operation of law (like inheritance), and charitable donations. The bill sets a future deadline for courts to create new forms to support these changes and extends the effective date to the year 3000.

Scope change

The scope expanded to explicitly cover transfers by operation of law (inheritance, bankruptcy, etc.) and charitable donations, which were not clearly defined in the previous version.

REQUIREMENT

Added a complete defense for transferors against liability once they file the required notice form, protecting them from claims by others who use or abandon the vehicle after the transfer.

Added specific rules for transferring vehicles not intended for driving, requiring notice to the director of finance instead of immediate physical delivery.

Added provisions for transfers by operation of law (e.g., inheritance, bankruptcy), requiring signatures by personal representatives and filing notices with the director of finance.

Added a requirement for licensed dealers to obtain specific written authorization before forwarding certificates of ownership for non-driving vehicles.

Added a new liability exemption for licensed dealers who forward certificates with proper authorization.

Added a specific penalty for organizations receiving vehicles as charitable donations, treating them as transferees under the law.

Removed the option for transferors to submit an attestation in lieu of forwarding the endorsed certificate of ownership within the time limit.

Removed the requirement that a transferee must forward the certificate within fourteen days, reverting to a standard thirty-day period.

TIMELINE

Added a deadline for courts to create new forms by July 1, 2026, to assist transferors in defending against liability claims.

Changed the bill's effective date from immediate approval to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 164) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Jan 28, 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, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors