STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3801

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1861

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1861, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NUMBER PLATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the use of Hawaiian diacritical markings on motor vehicle number plates issued in the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the use of an 'okina in the word "Hawai'i" and authorizes the use of all uppercase letters, all lowercase letters, or initial capital letters on all number plates issued on or after January 1, 2025;

(2) Limits issuance of special number plates for environmental conservation to electric vehicles; and

(3) Specifies that special number plates for environmental conservation do not require the use of the phrase "Aloha State".

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Finance of the County of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that requiring the use of an 'okina on number plates will help the State to promote to the public the proper meaning, spelling, and pronunciation of the word "Hawai'i". Your Committee also finds that limiting to electric vehicles the issuance of special number plates for environmental conservation will help to better align the purpose of the special number plates with the vehicles that will bear the special number plates.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the designs for special number plates for environmental conservation may, but shall not be required to, bear the words "Aloha State"; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1861, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1861, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair