STAND. COM. REP. NO. 854

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 382

        S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 382, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Prohibit motor vehicle manufacturers from charging subscription fees for certain services that employ equipment already installed in the motor vehicle at the time of sale as a new motor vehicle; and

 

     (2)  Provide that the prohibition shall not apply to entertainment streaming subscription services and vehicle navigation.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Big Island Electric Vehicle Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that motor vehicle manufacturers have begun charging subscription fees for consumers to use certain features in their vehicles, including remote locking, remote ignition, and automatic high-beam headlights.  Your Committee further finds that additional manufacturer's fees and other factors unnecessarily contribute to the increase in transportation costs for residents in Hawaii.  Thus, this measure prohibits vehicle manufacturers from charging subscription fees for the use of certain services that employ equipment installed in a motor vehicle at the time of sale.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that manufacturers may charge consumers for traffic information and safety-related services; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 382, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 382, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

 

 

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair