SB 2463 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

SB 2463 lowers the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) threshold for driving under the influence of intoxicants. It directly affects drivers operating vehicles who are impaired by alcohol or other intoxicants, making it easier for authorities to charge drivers with DUI at lower BAC levels. The key provision reduces the current legal limit for intoxication while driving, shifting the point at which impairment becomes a legal violation. This change would impact all drivers subject to DUI laws, potentially expanding the scope of enforceable offenses. The bill passed committee with amendments in early 2026.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2463_HD1 → SB2463_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends Hawaii's DUI laws to lower the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for administrative license revocation from 0.08 to 0.05. It also removes the requirement for law enforcement to immediately return a driver's license in cases where the BAC is below the new limit, simplifying the administrative process. The effective date of the law was changed from a distant future date (July 1, 3000) to upon the bill's approval.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of administrative license revocation to apply to drivers with a lower BAC threshold (0.05) compared to the previous standard (0.08).

REQUIREMENT

Lowered the blood alcohol concentration threshold for administrative license revocation from 0.08 to 0.05.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the requirement for law enforcement to immediately return a driver's license when a respondent's BAC is below the limit.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act from July 1, 3000, to upon approval.

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

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1474-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 245) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Kim, San Buenaventura. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-27-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Reported from TRS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2136) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TRS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to TRS, JDC.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors