SB 1520 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO FAMILY.

Summary

Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. (HD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Apr 23, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1520_HD1 → SB1520_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Hawaii's domestic abuse mediation exemption laws to apply to both paternity and divorce proceedings. It clarifies that courts cannot require mediation participation from victims of domestic abuse without their consent, and establishes specific safety requirements for mediators handling such cases.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope from only paternity proceedings (HD1 version) to include both paternity and divorce proceedings (SD1 version), making the domestic abuse mediation exemption applicable to a broader range of family law cases.

SCOPE

Added Section 2 to extend the domestic abuse mediation exemption to divorce proceedings, whereas the House version only covered paternity proceedings.

REQUIREMENT

Added a third requirement for mediation when domestic abuse is alleged: the alleged victim must be permitted to have a supporting person (such as an attorney) present at mediation sessions.

Clarified that when a victim exercises the right to have a supporting person present, the other party also gains the right to have their own supporting person present at mediation.

DEFINITION

Updated terminology from 'family violence' to 'domestic abuse' throughout the divorce proceedings section to align with the paternity section and current statutory language.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 3, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 448).

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1436) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Takenouchi.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 363) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 10:01AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 497) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors