HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	187
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the counties to develop an option to allow residents to remit motor vehicle registration taxes and fees on a pro-rated biannual basis.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that annual taxes and fees collected when non-new motor vehicles are registered can have a dire impact on low-income individuals; and

 

     WHEREAS, these low-income individuals may not be able to pay the taxes and fees in one lump sum or may experience financial hardship from 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 cannot afford to pay for the motor vehicle registration; and

 

     WHEREAS, the cycle of financial hardship will continue and increase as delinquent fees and other costs continue to accrue if an individual is ticketed for late registration and is unable to pay; and

 

     WHEREAS, moratoriums have been placed on rent and mortgage payments in response to the negative economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased financial hardship faced by many in Hawaii and nationally, but no such moratorium exists for car registration taxes and fees; and

 

     WHEREAS, a possible solution to this issue would be to allow low-income individuals, or persons deemed to be suffering a financial hardship, to pay the registration taxes and fees on their motor vehicles on a pro-rated biannual basis; and

     WHEREAS, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there should be a moratorium for payments of car registration taxes and fees, similar to the existing moratoriums placed on rent and mortgage payments; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the Senate concurring, that the counties are requested to develop an option to allow the residents of Hawaii to remit motor vehicle registration taxes and fees on a pro-rated biannual basis; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the counties are urged to consider a process to establish a moratorium on car registration payments; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu; Administrator of the Maui County Division of Motor Vehicles & Licensing; Administrator of the Kauai County Department of Motor Vehicles; and Administrator of the Hawaii County Vehicle Registration & Licensing Division.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Motor Vehicles; Biannual Registration; Counties