# Hawaii SB 2697: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. Hawaii SB 2697, RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-03 (Act 073, 06/03/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1173).) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2697-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Hawaii SB 2697 - State: Hawaii - Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) - Title: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-23 - Last action: 2026-06-03, Act 073, 06/03/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1173). - Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: DOT, Counties, Motor Vehicles, Shoulder Lanes, Registration, Expired Registration, Out-of-state Motor Vehicles, High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes, Enforcement, Penalties, TRN, JHA - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 11 (202 yes, 26 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain circumstances. Beginning one year after the effective date of this Act, authorizes the Department of Transportation and law enforcement officers to impound vehicles with expired registrations of three years or more, under certain conditions. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Increases the fine amount for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in the State. Establishes minimum and maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2) ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Higher fines for traffic violations: cost, medium. Drivers cannot use a road shoulder unless another law allows it or the transportation department designates permitted hours. The fine is $250 for a first violation or one with no violation in the prior five years, and $1,000 if another violation occurred within five years. Other covered traffic con… - Higher fines for unregistered vehicles: cost, medium. Owners who bring out-of-state vehicles into Hawaii must register them under state rules. Failing to register carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 per violation. Corporate owners who fail to register a vehicle after it moves across counties face a $1,000 fine per violation. Other covered vehicle-law vio… - Seized vehicles for unpaid taxes: mixed, high. County lawmakers set the penalty for late vehicle taxes. When a due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, taxes become late the next business day. The finance director can require payment of overdue taxes and penalties before registration, renewal, or ownership transfer. Vehicles without plates… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Rachele Lamosao (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-06 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 47 | 4 | | | 2026-05-06 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 20 | 5 | | | 2026-04-28 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 3 | 0 | | | 2026-04-28 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 2 | 0 | | | 2026-04-14 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 45 | 5 | | | 2026-04-08 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 2 | | | 2026-03-24 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA... | pass | 45 | 3 | | | 2026-03-19 | House | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 20 | 5 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 3 | 2 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 | | ## Bill text - Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_CD1_.pdf) - Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1173_.PDF) - SB2697_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_CD1_.HTM) - SB2697_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_HD1_.HTM) - SB2697_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_HD2_.HTM) - SB2697_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_SD1_.HTM) ## Related bills - SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law) - SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed) - HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed) - HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed) - HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed) - SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed) ## Sources - [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_CD1_.pdf) - [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_.HTM) - [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1173_.PDF) - [SB2697_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_CD1_.HTM) - [SB2697_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_HD1_.HTM) - [SB2697_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_HD2_.HTM) - [SB2697_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2697_SD1_.HTM) ## Related - [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026) - [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026) - [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026) - [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026) - [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026) - [SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026) - [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills) - [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2697-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).