# Hawaii SB 312: RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS.

Hawaii SB 312, RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB312-2026
- 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 312
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-14
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Audible Reverse Warning Systems, Broadband Sound, Exemptions, Report, TRN, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (85 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Prohibits a state- or county-owned vehicle purchased on or after 1/1/2028, from using an audible reverse warning system that emits a warning sound other than one using broadband technology. Authorizes the Director of Transportation to grant exemptions under certain circumstances. Requires the Director of Transportation to maintain an updated record of all exemptions granted and a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-18 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 48 | 1 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 22 | 3 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 3 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | Senate | The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 1 |   |

## Actions (20)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-03-18: Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1304) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-18: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 03-11-25 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to TRN, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 131). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1025) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: One Day Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; 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. 253) 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)
- 2025-02-04: 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., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to TCA, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_.PDF)
- SB312_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_HD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_.PDF)
- [SB312_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB312_HD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [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 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
- [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-SB312-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).