[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6569457,"mediaKeyId","3183520-63a04380b7c55056b2a4f4a353ee5be3","parentId",3183520,"title","Senate passes bill imposing mandatory jail, license suspension and possible vehicle forfeiture for repeat excessive speeders","audioSeconds",776,"startMs",2052000,"endMs",2828000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183520-63a04380b7c55056b2a4f4a353ee5be3&start=2052&end=2828","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183520-63a04380b7c55056b2a4f4a353ee5be3/thumbnail_2052000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6569457/Hawaii/Senate-passes-bill-imposing-mandatory-jail-license-suspension-and-possible-vehicle-forfeiture-for-repeat-excessive-speeders","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569457-21d9de9b73b7ece46d778656a49f71d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121534&Signature=jnLg30X9sfOlDoxZRVtO2T50UFS2wU7eXBKBnQnDoLPzwxeUbBAuqlMiSWQ4fLIuiZDPiXDhCHG14s7l7Y1gNLmsYj1J9KIPoClyzvA1UJZDMJtB3O162I-s--2YDeboKckOebZQP9NRoY1~lNTtSgEW~wSeYiEoW6R5RrgcQQ3UPd9jQmcK~dI-Z9M-brfkCj8x2F5zdX~Od1okn~tyXF0dNJhzhLqEzYjO7~6n6tv10PrxgFv0YjfZZevSYn8WqHPQwkAKN~-PVM2NAmuZZotl8CxsnP~uVV6dIBya9d9M0Ex-QBtjF5ByGscJIdYhnocPWAAy3Rq9qVvpFY76PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii Legislature","date","2025-05-02T22:45:45.703Z","article","HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Senate passed Senate Bill 97, conference draft 2, aimed at tougher penalties for repeat excessive speeders, after floor debate that split members over vehicle forfeiture and sentencing discretion.

Senator Elefante urged passage, citing national and state traffic-safety data and a personal childhood crash. He said the bill would give prosecutors and judges a stronger tool against repeat offenders by imposing a mandatory minimum 30-day jail sentence, a license suspension of not less than 90 days but not more than six months, required driver training and fines, and a potential vehicle forfeiture when the vehicle is used in the commission of the offense.

Supporters said the measure targets repeat offenders whose speeding has led to fatalities. \"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 44 percent of Hawaii's traffic fatalities from 2013 to 2022 were speed related,\" Senator Elefante said on the floor, and he cited state data showing 46 traffic fatalities statewide as of April 20, 2025. He also read Honolulu Police Department enforcement figures from a recent period: three racing arrests, 29 reckless-driving arrests, 49 impaired-driving arrests, 57 excessive-speeding arrests and more than 100 moving- and equipment-related citations.

Opponents voiced concern that vehicle forfeiture would punish entire households where a single vehicle serves multiple family members. Senator San Buenaventura, speaking in opposition, said forfeiture could deprive multigenerational families of their only transportation for work, school and basic errands. Similar objections came from Senators DeCoite and Fevella, who said their communities commonly rely on one shared car and would suffer disproportionate hardship if a vehicle were seized for the actions of a single household member.

Other senators raised questions about removing judicial discretion and the logistics of a continuous 30-day jail term, saying the penalty could lead to job loss for people who otherwise would be rehabilitated through staggered sentences or alternative sanctions.

The bill's final tally was 18 ayes and 7 noes. Senators Awa, DeCorte, Fevella, Hashimoto, San Buenaventura, DeCoite and McKelvey recorded no votes. With that count, SB 97 CD2 passed final reading and will proceed according to the legislature's post-adoption process.

The floor debate distinguished between policy goals (reducing deadly speeding), implementation questions (forfeiture procedures and impact on families) and sentencing design (mandatory continuous jail time vs. alternatives). The text passed on final reading includes the penalties described on the floor; the transcript does not show any subsequent amendments or administrative implementation details.

What happens next: The bill passed final reading in the Senate; the transcript does not specify whether the measure needs further executive action, enrollment or the governor's signature before becoming law.

Votes at a glance: SB 97 CD2 passed final reading, 18'7.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session 05-02-2025 11:30am","oneSentenceSummary","The Hawaii State Senate passed Senate Bill 97, conference draft 2, tightening penalties for repeat excessive speeders and authorizing judges in some cases to order vehicle forfeiture.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative , Hawaii","taxId",25703,"location","Hawaii","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6569447,"Votes at a glance: confirmations, resolutions and several bills cleared on final reading",1566,1860000,3426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183520-63a04380b7c55056b2a4f4a353ee5be3&start=1860&end=3426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183520-63a04380b7c55056b2a4f4a353ee5be3/thumbnail_1860000.jpg","/articles/6569447/Hawaii/Votes-at-a-glance-confirmations-resolutions-and-several-bills-cleared-on-final-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569447-476a5e06d025a051959d68724852a42c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121534&Signature=Ht5Jd7NPTc8W-FiFuzAabCvAzybF7DwsP-JuFNZN0j3J2Ka5LARc6Kn92BNfmPdO32q-Y6Z69TAvGZ0Vys2dsCAz9I5BRowuGE9VLoeoKyJny5ZPtOUnnl9dNvR1zfOwyP-5co2T0Glc~WF2P2y1MCbAIB6HjYa2C3zYapgbao4nLof4DnDwerCqw7lj05gx0-Bb-nvDNtfL9FSG8rSGdWqbXUSW9384kdwBA7dub5OnYxQzUqQUdiXVi5CXRJCm-TlcBXVrGfWDoTE229c~kYCYuaO9eCBO6HppsGAseVNHAzt-J16eMHziLJbjtnqV8xQW7WZgenJqZNHHfMI6-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Senate completed a number of routine and final-reading actions during the session recorded in the transcript, including confirmations, adoption of concurrent and simple resolutions, and final passage of bills on consent.

Key outcomes recorded on the floor:

- Confirmations: Standing committee nominations and governor's messages were confirmed by voice/roll-call; the clerk announced \"25 ayes\" for a set of nominees on the record.

- Final adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolutions (several SCRs listed on the agenda): The chamber moved and seconded final adoption; the majority approved the resolutions on the floor after a brief roll-call sequence and the clerk announced adoption.

- SB 1434, CD2 (universal immunization funding program): Passed final reading, 23 ayes, 2 noes.

- HB 1026, CD2 (emergency appropriations for public employment cost items): Passed final reading, 25 ayes.

- HB 1483, CD2 (fireworks): Passed final reading, 23 ayes, 2 noes.

- Senate resolutions SR 216 and SR 217: Adopted by unanimous consent after being moved and seconded on the floor.

Procedure notes: Several agenda items were taken on consent where the clerk announced final reading on consent. On some resolutions and measures members recorded reservations or no votes; the transcript captures specific no votes when called and lists members by name for those tallies.

The transcript does not include the full bill texts or governor actions following final passage; it records only the floor votes and, for some items, the names of members who recorded no votes.

","On the final day recorded in the transcript the Senate confirmed governor's nominees, adopted several concurrent resolutions and passed multiple measures on final reading by recorded tallies. Major roll-call results are summarized below.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6569453,"Senate approves 1% increase in transient accommodations tax and extends TAT to cruise-ship activity",560,2852000,3412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183520-63a04380b7c55056b2a4f4a353ee5be3&start=2852&end=3412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183520-63a04380b7c55056b2a4f4a353ee5be3/thumbnail_2852000.jpg","/articles/6569453/Hawaii/Senate-approves-1-increase-in-transient-accommodations-tax-and-extends-TAT-to-cruise-ship-activity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569453-18ef0477b0f040296c6f500165640cb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121534&Signature=lIB5soNn9jY20oRfJST2GWqpXnbm1QuAP8Ss9QoYWkZLMA5fVV8EuqbX6owBIF8r9A~Wkyp32Yw26d7sX252ThLGfQuAm6Y3yrNPnyxvNYJGALE5MXOaoN7428PDkixCzJZAnwh11XAAgfW0ypnfODJstLLSOzorsOFO7WLOCxtpJRPC541zhQpG72h1fGKmhhy6E7SXJO7vPgNob0EpO~EPRS7KviYLteg~b5GPOUljWVq~haZyDF7zonM24HpRx-x~ymaZzBPAJ-VlW6D1tompfWcr4nTOGD~XfJWNZ71vf7t-oZ4ca99uOR6~XuwacBi4sHBPc3vE7hJxSSpJ4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 13 96, conference draft 2, a measure that raises the transient accommodations tax (TAT) by 1 percentage point on lodging and applies a TAT to cruise-ship activity, after floor discussion that included island-economy and equity concerns.

Senators debating the measure said it would raise revenue for state priorities including climate change mitigation, restoration and disaster resilience. Supporters argued the one-point increase represents a modest change that will supply funding for projects and that hotel and lodging industries, which currently enjoy high average daily rates, could adjust pricing.

Senator Inouye and other members from neighbor islands expressed reservations about how the tax would affect communities dependent on cruise-ship visits, noting that some US-flag inter-island cruise activity could be curtailed and that local businesses in Hilo, Kona, Maui and Kauai could suffer. \"This cruise ship tax will negatively impact communities like Hilo, Kona, Maui and Kauai,\" one senator warned during floor remarks.

Senator Wakai, among other supporters, said similar past increases have not harmed tourism growth; he noted a previous 1% increase used to fund rail that did not halt visitor growth in the years that followed. Supporters asked the hospitality industry to consider lowering room rates to offset the tax increase.

The Senate recorded 23 ayes and 2 noes on final reading. Senators Awa and DeCorte cast the two no votes. Several senators entered statements of \"support with reservations.\" With the vote recorded on the floor, SB 13 96 CD2 passed final reading.

The transcript shows the chamber debated both macroeconomic effects on tourism and the bill's targeted policy goal of funding climate- and resilience-related priorities. The floor record does not include the bill's full text or detailed spending allocations; senators repeatedly described the funding as intended for mitigation, restoration and projects prioritized by the administration and the legislature.

What happens next: SB 13 96 CD2 passed final reading in the Senate. The transcript does not record any subsequent enrollment, concurrence from the House, or signature status from the governor.

","The Senate approved SB 13 96 CD2, which raises the statewide transient accommodations tax (TAT) by one percentage point and extends TAT coverage to certain cruise-ship activity. The floor debate exposed concerns about impacts on neighbor-island economies and resident affordability; the bill passed 23'.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate passes bill imposing mandatory jail, license suspension and possible vehicle forfeiture for repeat excessive speeders

Votes at a glance: confirmations, resolutions and several bills cleared on final reading

Senate approves 1% increase in transient accommodations tax and extends TAT to cruise-ship activity