STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1171-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1510

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1510, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Condition the issuance of a certificate of inspection upon a vehicle not being equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate;

(2) Amend the penalty for obstruction of a license plate;

(3) Allow state or county parking enforcement officers and persons authorized by a state or county law enforcement agency to issue citations for vehicles with a cover or shield obstructing the license plate; and

(4) Repeal the requirement that a cover or shield be intended to alter or interfere with the visibility, legibility, or identification of a license plate by law enforcement or traffic enforcement systems.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that license plate visibility is essential for traffic enforcement, roadway safety, and accurate identification of vehicles during incidents or violations. Your Committee further finds that the use of license plate covers or shields, regardless of transparency or claimed purpose, creates enforcement challenges and undermines public safety by obscuring or altering the visibility of identifying information. This measure seeks to improve compliance and strengthen statewide roadway safety.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1510, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1510, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair