State • Hawaii

SB 2851: RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS.

Joy San BuenaventuraIntroduced

SB 2851 status: Introduced — Act 261, 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1364) (updated Jul 15, 2026).

1

What this bill does

Overall score

Score90/100 civic fit
RiskLow risk
ImpactLow impact 25/100

Bill summary

Official

Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information. Effective 1/1/2027. (CD1)

Key analysis

Constitutionality95%
Bipartisan90%
Public opinion95%
2

Impact analysis

Environment

Mixed / Neutral
50%

Benefits

  • No direct environmental impact.

Risks

  • No direct environmental impact.

Economy

Mixed / Neutral
50%

Benefits

  • Minimal administrative overhead.

Risks

  • Potential minor cost for system database updates.

Society

Positive Outlook
90%

Benefits

  • Improves safety for deaf individuals during traffic stops.
  • Reduces risk of misunderstanding between law enforcement and the public.
  • Promotes disability inclusion.

Risks

  • Relies on voluntary registration to be effective.
3

How trustworthy & consequential it is

Source

LegiScan

Confidence

high

high

Analysis status

LegiScan full bill text

Warning

Privacy concerns regarding the storage and handling of sensitive medical status within registration databases.

Limitation

Voluntary opt-in may result in lower adoption rates.

4

Where it stands

1

Introduced

Current

Act 261, 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1364).

2

Committee

Upcoming
3

Floor

Upcoming
4

Governor

Upcoming
5

Enacted

Upcoming
5

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6

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