SB 1272 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TOWING.

Summary

Requires towing truck operators to obtain a towing license. Establishes the Towing Authority within the Department of Transportation to issue towing licenses and regulate towing operations. Prohibits the act of vehicle mobilization without a valid towing license. Prohibits the counties from enacting ordinances that provide less consumer protections than state law. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Feb 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1272 → SB1272_SD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes a new state Towing Authority within the Department of Transportation to issue licenses and regulate towing operations in Hawaii. It creates a comprehensive licensing system with specific requirements for towing companies, including mandatory insurance coverage and signage standards. The bill also grants counties broader powers to regulate towing operations while prohibiting them from enacting ordinances that provide less consumer protection than state law. Additionally, it appropriates funding for the new authority and sets a delayed effective date for licensing requirements.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands state oversight of towing operations by creating a new state-level regulatory authority, while simultaneously clarifying and expanding county powers to regulate towing. It also broadens the definition of regulated activities to include vehicle immobilization devices.

REQUIREMENT

Establishes a new Towing Authority within the Department of Transportation to issue towing licenses and regulate towing operations statewide.

Requires towing operators to maintain specific insurance coverage (bodily injury, property damage, and on-hook coverage) and display license information on tow trucks.

Prohibits vehicle immobilization without a valid towing license and requires facilities holding towed vehicles to have security features and be open during business hours.

Requires fifteen days' notice to vehicle owners before towing vehicles from leased spaces where occupants are in default.

ENFORCEMENT

Creates specific grounds for license suspension or revocation, including criminal convictions related to bodily injury, theft, or sexual assault within the past five years.

SCOPE

Expands county powers to regulate towing operations while prohibiting counties from enacting ordinances that provide less consumer protection than state law.

FISCAL

Appropriates state funds for the establishment and operation of the new towing authority.

TIMELINE

Sets the effective date for the act as July 1, 2050, with a delayed implementation of licensing requirements until after June 30, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 485) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA/CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors