SB 1272 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO TOWING.

Summary

Requires towing truck operators to obtain a towing license. Establishes the Towing Authority within the Department of Transportation to issue towing licenses and regulate towing operations. Prohibits the act of vehicle mobilization without a valid towing license. Prohibits the counties from enacting ordinances that provide less consumer protections than state law. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1272 → SB1272_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision updates the bill number and version, adds 'vehicle immobilization' to the definition of regulated towing activities, and clarifies that county ordinances cannot offer less consumer protection than state law. It also adjusts the effective date to July 1, 2050, while keeping the licensing implementation deadline at June 30, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include vehicle immobilization devices alongside traditional towing operations, and it added a prohibition on counties enacting ordinances that provide weaker consumer protections than state law.

REQUIREMENT

Added 'vehicle immobilization' to the list of activities requiring a valid towing license.

Clarified that county ordinances cannot provide less consumer protection than state law.

TIMELINE

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

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata, including the bill title, sponsor information, and revision numbers.

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

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 485) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

upper

Feb 7, 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; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA/CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors