HB 532 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLES.

Summary

Clarifies that proof that a transferor has filed required notice forms serves as a complete defense to any action brought against the transferor for an act or omission, civil or criminal, arising out of the use, operation, or abandonment of the vehicle by another person. Requires, by July 1, 2026, the courts to create new forms permitting transferors to respond to actions arising out of the use, operation, or abandonment of transferred vehicles. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 5, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB532 → HB532_HD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly rewrites Hawaii's vehicle title transfer laws to clarify liability protections for transferors and streamline the transfer process. It establishes clear timelines for forwarding title documents, defines when liability transfers to new owners, and creates new defenses for transferors who properly file notice forms. The bill also addresses charitable donations and transfers by operation of law, which were not clearly covered before.

Scope change

Expanded to cover charitable donations, transfers by operation of law (inheritance, bankruptcy, etc.), and added specific liability protections for transferors who file proper notice forms.

REQUIREMENT

Changed title transfer timeline from 14 days to 30 days (60 days for out-of-state lien holders), reversing the original bill's reduction.

Added requirement for dealers to immediately notify director of finance upon transfer, with specific form requirements.

Added bail payment requirements for transferring vehicles with outstanding traffic violations or abandoned vehicle charges.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific provisions for charitable donations and transfers by operation of law (inheritance, bankruptcy, repossession) to clarify how these transfers are handled.

ENFORCEMENT

Created new liability protections for transferors who file proper notice forms, establishing proof of filing as a complete defense against claims arising from vehicle use after transfer.

TIMELINE

Added requirement for courts to create new forms by July 1, 2026, to facilitate transferor defenses in legal actions.

DEFINITION

Added explicit definition of when title transfer is complete (upon director of finance issuing new certificates), affecting when liability passes to transferee.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 164) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors