SB 284 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO INTERCEPTION OF WIRE, ORAL, OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION.

Summary

Requires the Department of the Attorney General to provide a written memorandum recommending approval or disapproval of an order authorizing or approving the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication to the prosecuting attorney within twenty-four hours of the prosecuting attorney's request to the Department. Establishes a process for emergency applications for emergency orders authorizing or approving the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications. (HD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB284_HD1 → SB284_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies Hawaii's wiretapping laws to streamline emergency procedures for law enforcement while maintaining oversight. It clarifies that emergency wiretaps for imminent threats of death or injury do not require an initial written recommendation from the Attorney General, but requires one within 24 hours. The bill also updates the definition of 'designated judge' to include any available circuit or district court judge if a specially designated one is unavailable, and standardizes the 48-hour follow-up order deadline across all sections.

Scope change

The bill expands the definition of eligible judges for wiretapping orders and clarifies procedural requirements for emergency applications versus standard applications.

REQUIREMENT

Emergency wiretapping applications for imminent threats of death or injury no longer require an initial written memorandum from the Attorney General, but one must be provided within 24 hours of request.

Standard wiretapping applications must still be accompanied by a written Attorney General memorandum recommending approval or disapproval.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'designated judge' was expanded to include any available circuit or district court judge if a specially designated judge is unavailable.

TIMELINE

The 48-hour deadline for follow-up orders after emergency grants is now consistently applied across all sections of the statute.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

25–0

Passed

Total votes 25

Mar 4, 2025

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican3

3 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fevella, Ihara).

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Introduced

Reconsideration of action taken on 04-03-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 432).

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 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 121) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-20-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors