Senate Committee on Judiciary advances 13 House bills on digitized IDs, helmets, housing and other measures

The Senate Committee on Judiciary held a decision-making session (date not specified) and approved a package of 13 House bills covering digitized identification cards, water-shortage declarations, pet insurance regulation, helmet requirements for skateboard users under 16, timing for the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act changes, firearms-reporting deadlines, correctional-oversight coordinator terms, housing-authority powers, public-health nuisance authority, motorcycle-permit training requirements, speed-limit engineering exceptions, false labeling for roasted coffee, and public-lands lease lotteries.

Most measures were adopted on voice votes or by unanimous consent after brief presentation and technical amendments. Committee chair Rhoads and Vice Chair Gabbard cast recorded “aye” votes on measures where individual votes were read; several measures were noted as having a defective (incorrect) effective date and the committee directed technical fixes or left those corrections to the subject-matter committees.

HB 472 (HD1 SD1) — digitized identification: The measure would allow digitized identification cards to be accepted as proof of identity in specified circumstances and authorizes state and county law-enforcement agencies to accept a digitized ID. The committee removed a liability shield referenced in earlier drafts so that ordinary liability rules would apply and revised an exemption to clarify that the section does not apply where a physical copy of a current driver’s license, a valid passport or visa, or other identity card is required by state or federal law. Chair Rhoads, Vice Chair Gabbard and Senator Chang voted “aye”; Senator San Buenaventura was excused; Senator Fuentura voted “aye.” The committee’s recommendation was to pass with amendments; the measure passed.

HB 510 (HD1 SD1) — water-resource management: The bill amends how the Commission on Water Resource Management declares and notices water shortages and emergencies. The committee indicated the bill has an incorrect effective date and made technical amendments; the recommendation was to pass with amendments and the measure passed on the committee’s voice vote.

HB 544 (HD1 SD1) — pet insurance regulation: The bill establishes a regulatory framework for pet insurance based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Pet Insurance Model Act. The committee recommended passing the bill as written; it passed by voice vote.

HB 706 (HD1 SD1) — skateboard helmets for minors: The bill requires all skateboard users under age 16 to wear helmets while operating a skateboard. The committee noted an incorrect effective date; the recommendation was to pass as written and the measure passed on voice vote. The committee later revisited and reaffirmed that recommendation when the item was reconsidered.

HB 871 (HD1) — Hawaiian Homes Commission Act timing: The bill clarifies that Act 130 (2024), which amended the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, takes effect either on the date the secretary notifies that congressional approval is not required or on the date congressional approval becomes law. The committee recommended making the act effective upon approval and passed the measure with amendment.

HB 995 (HD1) — firearms-reporting deadlines: The bill amends annual reporting deadlines for the Department of the Attorney General and county chiefs of police regarding licenses to carry firearms, giving additional time for those reports. The recommendation was to pass as written. Senator Waugh was recorded as casting a “no” vote on this measure; otherwise it passed.

HB 1002 (HD1 SD1) — correctional oversight coordinator term: The bill extends the oversight coordinator’s term to three years beginning 07/01/2025 and authorizes the oversight commission to review the coordinator’s performance and make recommendations to the governor on retention. The committee recommended passing as written and the measure passed.

HB 1093 (HB 1093 HD1 SD1) — Hawaii Public Housing Authority powers: The bill clarifies HPHA powers relating to housing projects by decoupling the term “public” from “public housing” to allow mixed-income projects intended to deconcentrate poverty. The committee recommended passage as written; the measure passed. Senator O’Rourke registered a “no” vote on the record.

HB 1120 (HD2 SD1) — Department of Health authority on nuisances: The bill clarifies that the Department of Health has the legal authority and obligation to prevent and address nuisances affecting public or environmental health. The committee recommended passing with technical amendments and passed the measure.

HB 1162 (HD2 SD1) — motorcycle instruction permits: The bill requires motorcycle-instruction-permit applicants to successfully complete a basic motorcycle-rider course. The committee noted overlapping approval duties between the Department of Transportation and the Division of Motor Vehicle Registration and included committee-report language suggesting review of testimony about cross-jurisdictional course approval; the recommendation was to pass with amendments and the measure passed. Senator Waugh was recorded as abstaining or as a “no” on one related item earlier; the committee recorded a “no” vote from Senator Waugh on another measure in the session.

HB 1259 (HD1 SD1) — speed-limit engineering study exception: The bill specifies that an engineering study is not required when reducing a maximum speed limit by 10 miles per hour or less from the current limit and directs the Department of Transportation to use National Association of City Transportation Officials guidance in certain contexts. One senator spoke in opposition to the language as drafted, saying reductions in areas where speed had already been reduced created safety concerns from increased overtaking; that senator said, “I’m gonna be voting no because of the way the language is written.” Despite that objection and a recorded dissent, the committee noted the matter for subject-matter review and the measure passed.

HB 1291 (HD2 SD1) — false labeling for roasted coffee: The bill extends the offense of false labeling to include roasted coffee; it had a defective date noted by the committee but the recommendation was to pass as written and it passed.

HB 1348 (HD2 SD2) — public-lands lease lotteries for residential recreation use: The bill requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease certain public lands for recreational-residential use by public lottery limited to county residents; the committee accepted an amendment requiring a lottery within a year of vacancy and to apply good-standing renewal only after an initial lottery. The committee recommended passing with amendments and the measure passed.

The meeting concluded after the final roll call. Committee members repeatedly noted that several measures contained incorrect or “defective” effective dates; the committee either made technical amendments or deferred final date corrections to the appropriate subject committees or drafting offices.