RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS.
Summary
Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information. Effective 1/1/2027. (CD1)
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Jan 23, 2026
Signed Jul 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB2851_HD2
→
SB2851_SD1
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the registration process for deaf vehicle owners in Hawaii to improve accuracy and privacy. The most significant change is raising the hearing loss threshold required to qualify as "deaf" from 41 decibels to 82 decibels, aligning the law with current medical standards. Additionally, the bill adds a new option for individuals to prove their status by submitting recent tax forms, expanding eligibility beyond just medical certification. Finally, the effective date of the law was moved from the distant future of July 1, 3000, to January 1, 2027.
Scope change
The bill expands eligibility by allowing tax forms as proof of deafness, while simultaneously narrowing the definition by raising the required decibel threshold for medical certification.
DEFINITION
Raised the hearing loss threshold required to qualify as "deaf" from 41 decibels to 82 decibels.
ELIGIBILITY
Added a new method for proving deafness by submitting a copy of the individual's most recent filed income tax forms.
TIMELINE
Changed the effective date of the act from July 1, 3000, to January 1, 2027.
REQUIREMENT
Updated the certification requirement to allow either a medical professional's certification OR tax forms, whereas previously only medical certification was listed.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
48
Key actions
17
Committee
16
Amendments
2
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
lower
May 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga).
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 13-26) as amended in (CD 1).
lower
Apr 29, 2026
Introduced
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26.
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 13-26).
upper
Apr 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Poepoe; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Muraoka.
lower
Apr 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, McKelvey, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 9:30AM; CR 329.
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Amended
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 707).
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1334-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, La Chica, Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kitagawa.
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 17
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Introduced
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 309) in amended form (SD 1).
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Reported from TRS/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2261) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TRS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte.
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on TRS/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:15PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
Referred to TRS/HHS, JDC.
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Introduced.
upper
7 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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