THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2081
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to motor vehicles.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that currently, no change to a jointly titled motor vehicle registration may occur without signatures from both parties. However, many divorce decrees award sole ownership of a jointly titled motor vehicle to one party, yet due to the signature requirement, the non-owning party often remains listed on the certificate of registration. This failure to complete a transfer of title potentially exposes one party to legal and financial risk from the divorced party's operation of the motor vehicle.

The legislature believes that further action is necessary to protect divorced individuals from any liability arising from motor vehicle abandonment, citations, unmet registration requirements, and damages to property or persons caused by accidents involving a motor vehicle they no longer own or possess.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to authorize a person to remove their name from a certificate of registration from a motor vehicle if that person is party to a divorce decree that states that title to the motor vehicle was granted to the other party.

SECTION 2. Section 286-49, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§286-49 Registration of vehicles under two or more names. Unless otherwise specifically stated by a written document, any vehicle registered in the names of two or more persons shall be presumed to be owned in joint tenancy[.]; provided that any person may remove their name from the certificate of registration if the person is party to a divorce decree filed and entered pursuant to section 580-45 that states that title to the motor vehicle was granted to the other party."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Motor Vehicles; Certificate of Registration; Divorce Decree

Description:

Authorizes a person to remove their name from a certificate of registration from a motor vehicle if that person is party to a divorce decree that states that title to the motor vehicle was granted to the other party.

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