STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1305

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 226

H.D. 3

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 226, H.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WINDSHIELD TINTING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit a person from installing, mounting, adhering, affixing, or using any sun screening device in conjunction with the glazing material of a motor vehicle with mirrored, metallic, red, yellow, amber, or blue tint;

(2) Require all drivers and passengers of motor vehicles with applied tint to fully roll down their windows when stopped by a law enforcement officer at a traffic stop;

(3) Lower the minimum light transmittance levels for sun screening devices on certain motor vehicles;

(4) Exempt side windows to the rear of the driver and rear windows on sedans from sun screening device requirements; and

(5) Increase the minimum and maximum fines for violating sun screening device requirements.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, T&T Specialists, and one individual.

Your Committees find that the State has seen an increase in sunny days and heat indexes due to climate change. Current windshield tinting regulations are restrictive and do not sufficiently address rising global temperatures and the effect on motor vehicle interiors. Darker windows can increase visibility by blocking excessive sunlight, decrease vehicle interior temperature, and promote energy efficiency by decreasing excessive air conditioning usage. This measure will enhance road safety, improve law enforcement interactions, and combat the effects of climate change on motor vehicles.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have allowed sedans, vans, minivans, trucks, and buses to have a light transmittance of no less than twenty percent for side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows;

(2) Restoring language that allows all vehicles to have a light transmittance of no less than thirty-five percent, rather than twenty percent, for side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 226, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 226, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair