STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1825-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2851

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2851, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board; Aloha Independent Living Hawaii; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that interactions between law enforcement officers and drivers who are deaf may present safety risks when a hearing impairment is not readily apparent, as a lack of response to verbal commands may be misinterpreted as noncompliance. Your Committee further finds that allowing a voluntary designation on motor vehicle registrations to alert officers during electronic inquiries, while limiting access to protect personal information, will facilitate appropriate communication and promote safer and more effective encounters.

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

Your Committee notes testimony requesting an effective date of January 1, 2028, to allow the counties adequate time for implementation.

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 S.B. No. 2851, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2851, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair