Bill Commons

HI SB 971

died on adjournment

RELATING TO TRAFFIC.

Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · upper

Quick answers

Did HI SB 971 pass?

No. HI SB 971 died when the 2026 Regular Session adjourned without final action on it. Bills that die this way are sometimes reintroduced in a later session. Latest recorded action (2025-12-08): Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

What is HI SB 971 about?

Provides that if a law enforcement officer lawfully stops a motor vehicle and the operator is cited for driving without a valid license, the officer shall not permit the operator to resume the use of the motor vehicle. Requires the motor vehicle to be moved by a licensed driver or towed at the owner's expense. Provides that the cited operator is responsible for arranging the operator's transportation from the scene of the stop. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Who sponsors HI SB 971?

RICHARDS, ELEFANTE, FEVELLA and 2 others are the primary sponsors of HI SB 971, joined by 3 cosponsors.

Description

Provides that if a law enforcement officer lawfully stops a motor vehicle and the operator is cited for driving without a valid license, the officer shall not permit the operator to resume the use of the motor vehicle. Requires the motor vehicle to be moved by a licensed driver or towed at the owner's expense. Provides that the cited operator is responsible for arranging the operator's transportation from the scene of the stop. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Introduced
2025-01-17
Latest action
2025-12-08 — Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • RICHARDSprimary
  • ELEFANTEprimary
  • FEVELLAprimary
  • HASHIMOTOprimary
  • RHOADSprimary
  • Moriwakicosponsor
  • San Buenaventuracosponsor
  • Wakaicosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-12-08

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

    carried-over

  2. 2025-03-06

    Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 19

    referral-committee

  3. 2025-03-06

    Pass First Reading

    reading-1

  4. 2025-03-04

    Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 232) in amended form (SD 2).

    introduction,receipt

  5. 2025-03-04

    Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

    passage

  6. 2025-02-28

    48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.

  7. 2025-02-28

    Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1017) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

  8. 2025-02-21

    The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

    committee-passage-favorable

  9. 2025-02-18

    The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-21-25 10:20AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  10. 2025-02-12

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

    passage,reading-2,referral-committee

  11. 2025-02-12

    Reported from TCA/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 385) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

  12. 2025-02-10

    The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    committee-passage-favorable

  13. 2025-02-10

    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.

    committee-passage-favorable

  14. 2025-02-06

    The committee(s) on TCA/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 3:15PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

  15. 2025-01-23

    Referred to TCA/PSM, JDC.

    referral-committee

  16. 2025-01-21

    Passed First Reading.

    reading-1

  17. 2025-01-17

    Introduced.

    introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2025-02-10 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (6)
    • Lee: yes
    • C: yes
    • Inouye: yes
    • Elefante: yes
    • Kanuha: yes
    • DeCorte: yes

  • The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2025-02-10 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Elefante: yes
    • Wakai: yes
    • Fukunaga: yes
    • Rhoads: yes
    • DeCorte: yes

  • The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2025-02-21 · pass · 3-1

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Rhoads: yes
    • Chang: yes
    • San Buenaventura: yes
    • Awa: no
    • Gabbard: not voting

  • Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

    2025-03-04 · pass · 24-1

Related bills

Official source

https://capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=971&year=2026

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:20:09.051962Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

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