HB 1696 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Summary

Lowers the age of who may drive commercially within the State from nineteen to eighteen. Repeals the requirement that a person only operates category 3 vehicles to qualify to drive commercially in the State. Prohibits a person under twenty-one years of age from operating a commercial motor vehicle outside of a registered apprenticeship program as determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations or a structured, on-the-job training program administered by the person's employer that meets certain requirements. Requires the Department of Transportation to amend its rules to lower the minimum age required for a commercial driver's license. (CD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed May 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1696_HD2 → HB1696_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the rules for commercial driver's licenses in Hawaii by introducing a new age restriction and training requirement. Drivers under twenty-one years old are now prohibited from operating commercial motor vehicles unless they are enrolled in a specific registered apprenticeship program or a structured employer-administered training program. The bill also clarifies that employers offering these training programs cannot use them as a mandatory condition for licensure if the applicant already qualifies through a state-recognized apprenticeship.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of eligibility requirements by adding a specific exception for young drivers (under 21) who participate in approved training programs, whereas previously no such age-based training exceptions were detailed in this manner.

ELIGIBILITY

Drivers under twenty-one are now barred from operating commercial motor vehicles unless they are actively enrolled in a registered apprenticeship or a structured on-the-job training program.

The requirement for employer training is modified to state that employer-administered training is not required if the applicant already qualifies through a registered apprenticeship program.

REQUIREMENT

New structured on-the-job training programs must include a minimum of 320 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel instruction and meet specific safety and record-keeping standards.

Updated the list of disqualifying factors for drivers to include a new condition regarding age and enrollment in specific training programs.

HB1696 → HB1696_CD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill lowers the minimum age for obtaining a commercial driver's license in Hawaii from twenty-one to eighteen, but only for drivers operating within the state (intrastate) who are enrolled in specific training programs. It adds new requirements for drivers under twenty-one to complete either a registered apprenticeship or a structured employer training program before they can drive commercially. The legislation also updates the legal text to clarify these age restrictions and training mandates while repealing previous rules that set the age limit at nineteen or higher.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of the age reduction to apply only to intrastate commercial drivers (those driving within Hawaii) and restricts their eligibility to those actively enrolled in approved apprenticeship or employer-sponsored training programs.

ELIGIBILITY

The minimum age requirement for a commercial driver's license was lowered from twenty-one to eighteen years old.

REQUIREMENT

Drivers under twenty-one must be enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program or a structured, on-the-job training program administered by their employer to qualify for a license.

Employer-administered training programs must include a minimum of 320 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel instruction and meet specific safety and supervision standards.

Drivers under twenty-one are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle outside the scope, supervision, or duration of their approved training program.

The license issued to drivers under twenty-one will bear a 'K' restriction, limiting their operation to intrastate commerce only.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added to clarify what constitutes a 'registered apprenticeship program' and a 'structured, on-the-job training program' for the purposes of this law.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was updated from HB1696 to HB1696 CD1, and associated metadata such as dates and revision numbers were updated to reflect the committee version.

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, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-26

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 9-26).

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 9-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 9:30AM; CR 329.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 604) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:30AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Reported from TRS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3106) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TRS has rescheduled its public hearing to 03-17-26 3:00PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TRS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to TRS, JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 267).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 653-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor