Bill > HB532

This bill amends Hawaii's vehicle title transfer laws to provide additional legal protection for vehicle transferors by establishing a complete legal defense mechanism when they properly file a transfer notice. Specifically, the bill adds a provision that if a vehicle transferor files the required notice form with the director of finance, they will be fully protected from any civil or criminal actions arising from the vehicle's subsequent use, operation, or abandonment by another person. The bill requires that courts create new forms by July 1, 2026, to help transferors easily respond to and potentially dismiss such actions by submitting proof of their notice filing. The law applies to both licensed dealers and individual vehicle owners who transfer vehicle ownership, and it aims to clarify and strengthen the legal protections for those who have legitimately transferred a vehicle and filed the appropriate documentation. Under the new provisions, a transferor can use a copy of the filed notice form as proof of their filing, which will serve as a complete defense against potential legal claims related to the vehicle after the transfer.

Justice, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=532&year=2026