Hawaii ties license loss to alcohol or drug offense notices
Hawaii's law makes license loss follow the alcohol or drug offense notice date, even when review mailing is late, unless canceled or delayed.
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What it does
License loss starts 30 days after an alcohol offense notice or 44 days after a drug offense notice, unless canceled or delayed under hearing rules. Late review mailing does not stop it.
People facing license loss can email written information for the automatic review. If the director upholds the revocation, they have six days after the decision is mailed to request a hearing.
When license loss is canceled, people receive a certified statement ending the case. Their license is returned unless a later alcohol or drug enforcement contact has occurred.
Argument forSending written information by email could help drivers challenge license loss without traveling or waiting for mail.
Argument againstDrivers could lose permission to drive before receiving a review decision because late mailing does not stop the license loss.
More detail
A license revocation notice sets the date when a person loses the license and permission to operate a vehicle. These rules cover people receiving notices for alcohol or drug offenses involving vehicle operation in Hawaii, including on its waters. A hearing request can lead to a later date set by the director. Cancellation of the revocation or an extension of the temporary permit prevents license loss on the stated date. The deadlines run from the date the notice is issued. The law takes effect upon approval.
The director automatically reviews the notice. People can submit written information by mail, email, or in person. People can request a hearing to challenge a review decision that upholds license loss. The notice rules allow written information within three days of issuance for alcohol offenses or 17 days for drug offenses. The review section separately says to submit it within three days of receiving the notice. If the director receives a hearing request within six days of mailing the review decision, the hearing must start within 25 days of the original notice for alcohol offenses or 39 days for drug offenses. People who miss that window can request a hearing within 60 days of the original notice. It must start within 30 days of receipt. Their temporary permit is not extended unless the referenced hearing exception applies. Review decisions must be mailed within 14 days of the original notice for alcohol offenses or 28 days for drug offenses.
The director provides a certified statement ending the case when the license revocation is canceled. These rules cover people whose revocation is canceled after the automatic review or a hearing. The director must cancel the notice if the evidence does not support license revocation. The license must be returned unless a later alcohol or drug enforcement contact has occurred. The statement and license-return rules apply when the revocation is canceled.
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More on this bill
Where it stands
Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
4To Governor
Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
2026
Jun 4Act 071, 06/03/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1171).Latest
Jun 4Act 071, on 06/03/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1171).Became Law
May 27Pending introduction.
May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
May 7Transmitted to Governor.
May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Poepoe, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Rhoads, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 134-26) as amended in (CD 1).
May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 134-26).
May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
Apr 30Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:35AM; Conference Room 329.
Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 10:31AM; CR 329.
Apr 28Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 10:20 AM; Conference Room 329.
Apr 28Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 329.
Apr 27Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 329.
Apr 21Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799).Minor
Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 688) in amended form (SD 1).
Apr 10Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3779) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
Apr 8The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
Apr 8The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
Apr 6The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
Mar 23Reported from TRS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3109) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
Mar 23Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.Minor
Mar 17The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TRS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
Vote recorded The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
Mar 13The committee(s) on TRS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
Mar 13The committee(s) on TRS has rescheduled its public hearing to 03-17-26 3:00PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 413).Minor
Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
Mar 12Referred to TRS, JDC/WAM.Minor
Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
Mar 6Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1178-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
Mar 4The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.Minor
Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Feb 20Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 661-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA. Result: pass.Lower
Feb 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
Feb 19The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Cochran, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
Vote recorded The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
Feb 13Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 02-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Feb 2Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 6Minor
Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Introduced