# Hawaii SB 1522: RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLE TRANSFERS.

Hawaii SB 1522, RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLE TRANSFERS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-29 (Act 109, 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1209).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1522-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1522
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLE TRANSFERS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-05-29, Act 109, 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1209).
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Vehicle Title Transfers, Liability, Motor Vehicles, TRN, JHA
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 10 (201 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Clarifies that proof that a transferor has filed required notice forms with the County Director of Finance serves as a complete defense to any action brought against the transferor for an act or omission, civil or criminal, arising from the use, operation, or abandonment of the vehicle by another person. Requires, by 7/1/2026, the Judiciary to determine whether new forms or modification of the Judiciary's website is necessary to assist vehicle transferors and, if so, to create the forms or modify the website. (CD1)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Protection for sellers after notice: benefit, medium. A vehicle transferor who files the required notice has a complete defense to civil or criminal claims tied to another person’s later use, operation, or abandonment of the vehicle. A copy of the filed notice proves it was filed.
- Fines for false transfer information: cost, medium. A vehicle transferor who submits false or fraudulent information for an action required under this law faces a fine of $500 to $1,000.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-24 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-24 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-28 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA... | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-28 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-06 | Senate | The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (47)

- 2025-05-29: Act 109, 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1209). (Senate)
- 2025-05-29: Act 109, on 05/29/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1209). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-02: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2). (House)
- 2025-04-24: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Tarnas, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 96). (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 96) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-24: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-23: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 10:35AM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731). (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Rhoads Co-Chair; DeCorte. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 789). (House)
- 2025-04-14: House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Muraoka. (House)
- 2025-04-08: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 616). (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1772) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-04-25. (House)
- 2025-03-28: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-25: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Friday, 03-28-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-18: Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1321) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-03-18: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-13: The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica, Pierick. (House)
- 2025-03-11: Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 03-13-25 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-04: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 18 (House)
- 2025-02-28: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 57). (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 724) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: One Day Notice 02-28-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard. (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 10:01AM; CR 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 260) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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. (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to TCA, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1209_.PDF)
- SB1522_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_CD1_.HTM)
- SB1522_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_HD1_.HTM)
- SB1522_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_HD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1209_.PDF)
- [SB1522_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB1522_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB1522_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1522_HD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1522-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).