HB 1231 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Summary

Establish a safe routes to school program vehicle registration surcharge on certain motor vehicle registrations to be imposed and collected no later than 12/31/2025. Prohibits the use of facial recognition software in the operation of any photo red light imaging detector systems or automated speed enforcement systems. Clarifies the citations and summons procedures for the Automated Speed Enforcement Detector Systems Program. (CD1)

Issues: ✗ Technology ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed Jun 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1231_HD1 → HB1231_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill introduces significant changes to Hawaii's traffic safety laws by prohibiting facial recognition software in photo red light imaging systems, increasing vehicle weight taxes to fund school safety programs, and clarifying automated speed enforcement procedures. The legislation also authorizes the state to recommend dangerous intersections and school zones for enforcement system installation, and includes funding appropriations for these programs.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of traffic enforcement by adding automated speed enforcement systems near school zones and establishing new funding mechanisms for school safety infrastructure.

REQUIREMENT

Prohibits the use of facial recognition software in any photo red light imaging detector system, automated speed enforcement system, or other camera monitoring outdoor public spaces.

Clarifies that automated speed enforcement systems may only be implemented within 200 feet of school zones identified by the safe routes to school advisory committee.

FISCAL

Increases vehicle weight tax rates for heavy vehicles (over 4,000 pounds) to generate additional revenue for the safe routes to school program special fund.

Appropriates funds from the state highway fund and automated speed enforcement systems program special fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support program implementation and maintenance.

ENFORCEMENT

Authorizes the state highway safety and modernization council to recommend 25 dangerous intersections for photo red light imaging systems and the safe routes to school advisory committee to recommend 25 dangerous school zones for automated speed enforcement.

Updates summons and citation procedures for automated speed enforcement systems, including requirements for photographic evidence of license plates and specific mailing procedures.

DEFINITION

Defines 'facial recognition software' as any technology that identifies or verifies the identity of an individual captured in images or video.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Kong, Pierick, Souza voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 214).

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 214) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Kim, Rhoads, Elefante; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCorte.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 225.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 3:30PM in Conference Room 411.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 2:00PM in Conference Room 411.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 329.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 11:30AM in Conference Room 329.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 10:35AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 750) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, McKelvey, San Buenaventura). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Lee, C..

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1347) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, WAM/JDC.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 159).

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 704) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, FIN, referral sheet 4

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

14 primary · 0 co-sponsors