STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2261

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2851

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2851 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and eight individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committees find that deaf motor vehicle owners are often unable to hear speech clearly during a traffic stop as the sound of passing vehicle and environmental noise interfere with their ability to hear verbal commands from a law enforcement officer. A law enforcement officer who is unaware of the motor vehicle owner's hearing status may perceive their attempts to communicate through American Sign Language or gestures as a threat or lack of cooperation. Authorizing deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual will allow that information to appear when a law enforcement officer conducts an electronic check of the motor vehicle's registration. This measure will prevent misunderstandings at traffic stops and enhance the safety of vulnerable road users.

Your Committees note the concern raised by the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu that adequate time is needed to initiate interagency coordination and implement the necessary administrative procedures and updates. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date from upon approval to January 1, 2027; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2851, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2851, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair