# Hawaii SB 2851: RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS.

Hawaii SB 2851, RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by SAN BUENAVENTURA; status signed, last action 2026-07-15 (Act 261, 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1364).) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2851-2026
- 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 2851
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-07-15, Act 261, 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1364).
- Sponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: Deaf, Hearing Impaired, Disability, Motor Vehicle Registration, Law Enforcement, TRN, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 12 (234 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-05-06 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 51 | 0 |   |
| 2026-05-01 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-24 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-24 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 2 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-14 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 51 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-31 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-24 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA... | pass | 48 | 0 |   |
| 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 | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |

## Actions (48)

- 2026-07-15: Act 261, 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1364). (Senate)
- 2026-07-15: Act 261, on 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1364). (House)
- 2026-05-08: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888). (Senate)
- 2026-05-07: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2026-05-06: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). (House)
- 2026-05-05: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814). (House)
- 2026-05-01: Deferred one day 05-06-26. (House)
- 2026-05-01: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga). (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 13-26). (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26. (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 13-26) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2026-04-29: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26. (House)
- 2026-04-24: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, McKelvey, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-04-24: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Poepoe; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Muraoka. (House)
- 2026-04-23: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811). (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Poepoe Co-Chairs; Muraoka. (House)
- 2026-04-22: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 9:30AM; CR 329. (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Senate Conferees Appointed: Inouye Chair; McKelvey, Rhoads Co-Chairs; DeCorte. (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718). (House)
- 2026-04-16: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 707). (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710). (House)
- 2026-04-14: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-04-10: Deferred one day 04-14-26. (House)
- 2026-04-08: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1825-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-04-08: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-10-26. (House)
- 2026-03-31: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama. (House)
- 2026-03-25: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-31-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-24: Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1334-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2026-03-24: 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) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2). (House)
- 2026-03-19: The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, La Chica, Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kitagawa. (House)
- 2026-03-16: Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 03-19-26 8:30AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 17 (House)
- 2026-03-10: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 309) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2992) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: One Day Notice 03-10-26. (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Reported from TRS/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2261) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TRS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte. (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on TRS/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:15PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to TRS/HHS, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1364_.PDF)
- SB2851_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_CD1_.HTM)
- SB2851_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_HD1_.HTM)
- SB2851_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_HD2_.HTM)
- SB2851_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_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 2866: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1364_.PDF)
- [SB2851_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB2851_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB2851_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_HD2_.HTM)
- [SB2851_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2851_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 2866: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2866-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2851-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).