HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2375

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO TOWING PRACTICES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that parking enforcement and towing practices on state and state-leased lands are currently administered through fragmented systems, inconsistent standards, and varying contractual arrangements that lack uniform consumer protections, transparency, accessibility safeguards, and public accountability.

     The legislature further finds that inconsistent enforcement authority, inadequate notice requirements, improper towing of vehicles used by persons with disabilities, coercive or cash-only payment practices, and the absence of centralized public reporting have undermined public trust and, in some cases, interfered with rights protected under federal law.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a uniform towing practices for public parking facilities working group to examine existing state and county laws, ordinances, rules, and administrative practices relating to towing from public parking facilities and develop recommendations for uniform standards applicable to towing from state and county parking facilities.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established the uniform towing practices for public parking facilities working group within the department of transportation for administrative purposes.  The working group shall:

     (1)  Review existing state and county laws, ordinances, rules, and administrative practices relating to towing from public parking facilities;

     (2)  Examine standards for notice, signage, fee transparency, storage practices, release procedures, and dispute resolutions;

     (3)  Identify inconsistencies among jurisdictions and assess impacts on vehicle owners and operators;

     (4)  Develop recommendations for uniform minimum standards applicable to towing from state and county parking facilities, including due process protections and consumer transparency requirements; and

     (5)  Recommend whether legislation, administrative rulemaking, or intergovernmental agreements are necessary to implement uniform practices.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of transportation, or the director's designee;

     (2)  The director of commerce and consumer affairs, or the director's designee;

     (3)  The attorney general, or the attorney general's designee;

     (4)  The chief of police of the city and county of Honolulu, or the chief's designee;

     (5)  A representative of a county police department from a neighbor island, to be appointed by the governor;

     (6)  A representative of a licensed towing company, to be appointed by the governor;

     (7)  A representative of a county department responsible for public parking management, to be appointed by the governor;

     (8)  A representative of a consumer protection or civil legal services organization, to be appointed by the president of the senate; and

     (9)  A member of the public with experience in transportation, municipal operations, or property management, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

     (c)  The director of transportation, or director's designee, shall designate the chairperson of the working group.

     (d)  The members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties.

     (e)  The working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

     (f)  The working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2027.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 


 

Report Title:

Working Group; Uniform Towing Practices for Public Parking Facilities; Uniform Standards

 

Description:

Establishes a Uniform Towing Practices for Public Parking Facilities Working Group within the Department of Transportation to examine existing state and county laws, ordinances, rules, and administrative practices relating to towing from public parking facilities and develop recommendations for uniform standards applicable to towing from state and county parking facilities.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.