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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
153 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
URGING THE COUNTIES TO DEVELOP AN OPTION THAT ALLOWS STATE RESIDENTS TO REMIT THEIR MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAXES AND FEES ON A PRO-RATED SEMIANNUAL BASIS.
WHEREAS, the high costs of housing, food, health care, transportation, and other goods and services in the State are felt by Hawaii residents statewide, but particularly by low-income individuals; and
WHEREAS, household spending on transportation represents a primary expense for households in the State and the rest of the nation; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Transportation, households spent an average of $9,826 on transportation in 2020, the second largest household expenditure category after housing when spending on behalf of households, such as health care benefits, is excluded; and
WHEREAS, all motor vehicles in the State, including motor vehicle ownership transfers, are subject to registration taxes and fees; and
WHEREAS, low-income individuals may not be able to pay the taxes and fees associated with motor vehicle registration in lump sum or may experience financial hardship in doing so; and
WHEREAS, motor vehicles are necessary for travel to and from work and to carry out other daily activities even if the owner of the motor vehicle is unable to afford the motor vehicle registration taxes and fees; and
WHEREAS, if an individual is unable to pay for the taxes and fees associated with motor vehicle registration and incurs a penalty for late registration of the motor vehicle, the cycle of financial hardship on the individual continues and the fiscal responsibilities increase as delinquent fees and other costs continue to mount; and
WHEREAS, while a statewide moratorium was established during the height of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on evictions for nonpayment of rent, no moratorium was established for nonpayment of motor vehicle registration taxes and fees; and
WHEREAS, a possible solution to alleviate the financial hardships experienced by low-income individuals and other qualified individuals is to allow these individuals to pay their motor vehicle registration taxes and fees on a pro-rated biannual basis; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the Senate concurring, that the counties are urged to develop an option that allows state residents to remit their motor vehicle registration taxes and fees on a pro-rated semiannual basis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayors and Council Chairpersons of the City and County of Honolulu and the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui; Director of the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu; Administrator of the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division of the County of Hawaii; Administrator of the Driver License Division and Motor Vehicle Division of the County of Kauai; and Administrator of the Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division of the County of Maui.
Motor Vehicle Registration Taxes and Fees; Counties; Pro-rated Semiannual Payment