Informing the Legislature that on July 9, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2657 HD1 SD1 (ACT 252).

This bill establishes new legal procedures in Hawaii to address and prevent abusive litigation, where one party uses court proceedings to harass, intimidate, or financially harm an intimate partner. It directly affects individuals involved in family law cases, such as divorce or protection order disputes, by defining abusive litigation as lawsuits filed by partners who have a history of domestic violence against the other party. The law creates a specific framework for courts to identify these patterns and implement measures to stop frivolous or malicious legal actions that exploit the judicial system. By formally recognizing this issue, the legislation aims to protect survivors from having their time, money, and emotional well-being drained by strategic legal abuse.