THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	27
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to vehicle sales.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawai‘i has set clear and attainable goals for the reduction of fossil fuel dependency.  In 2014, the State agreed to the Aloha+ Challenge, which among other goals, commits to achieving seventy per cent clean energy usage by 2030.  In 2016, Governor Ige and the departments of the executive branch put forth the Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative, which commits the State to one hundred per cent renewable electricity by 2045.  The legislature also finds that currently one third of the fossil fuel brought into the State is being used for ground transportation, while another one third is used for aviation.  The legislature therefore finds that in order to comply with the initiatives and promises made for a sustainable community, the only option is to address the fossil fuel usage by all combustion engine-powered vehicles.  The legislature also acknowledges that the average life span of a vehicle powered by a combustion engine is twelve to fifteen years.

     The purpose of this Act, therefore, is to commence limiting the sales of combustion engine-powered vehicles by prohibiting a retailer from selling or offering for sale any combustion engine-powered vehicle, unless it concerns the resale of a vehicle initially purchased by a consumer prior to January 1, 2026.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§286-    Sale of new combustion engine-powered vehicles; prohibited; civil penalty; enforcement.  (a)  Beginning January 1, 2026, no retailer shall sell or offer for sale any combustion engine-powered vehicle unless the vehicle was initially purchased in a consumer transaction completed prior to January 1, 2026; provided that the transaction was not initiated before July 1, 2025; provided further that commercial motor vehicles as defined in section 286-2 shall be excluded.

     (b)  This section shall not be construed to prohibit any individual or retailer from reselling, renting, or offering for resale or rent, a combustion engine-powered vehicle that was initially purchased in a consumer transaction prior to January 1, 2026.

     (c)  Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 for each separate offense.  Each violation shall constitute a separate offense.

     (d)  For the purposes of this section, "retailer" means a person or entity that engages in the practice of selling vehicles to consumers."

     SECTION 3.  Section 286-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to read as follows:

     ""Combustion engine-powered vehicle" means any vehicle with an engine propelled by the combustion of a fossil-fuel-and-air mixture inside one or more closed chambers or cylinders."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Sale of Combustion Engine-Powered Vehicles; Prohibition; Civil Penalty

 

Description:

Prohibits the sale of any new combustion engine-powered vehicle by a person or entity that engages in the practice of selling vehicles to consumers.  Imposes a fine of up to $1,000 for each offense.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.