SB 292 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.

SB 292 creates legal protection for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical care or contact law enforcement. It shields them from being prosecuted for minor offenses like drug possession or prostitution that occurred during their exploitation. This applies specifically when survivors access services through official channels to report or receive care. The bill is currently under committee review, with a public hearing scheduled for February 6, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jul 2025

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed Jul 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB292_HD2 → SB292_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill introduces safe harbor protections for sex trafficking survivors seeking medical or law enforcement assistance, preventing their arrest, prosecution, or penalties when they seek help in good faith. It also establishes designated zones for regulating street prostitution in Waikiki and other county-designated areas, with mandatory minimum sentences and geographic restrictions for violators. The legislation includes specific protections for minors and law enforcement officers while clarifying definitions of sexual conduct and assistance-seeking behaviors.

Scope change

The bill expands protection scope to include all counties for designated prostitution zones and adds specific geographic restrictions for violators in Waikiki and other designated areas.

ENFORCEMENT

Added safe harbor protections preventing arrest, prosecution, conviction, civil forfeiture, or penalties for survivors seeking medical or law enforcement assistance in good faith

Modified prostitution sentencing to allow deferral of proceedings and expungement eligibility after three years for first-time offenders

REQUIREMENT

Established mandatory 30-day imprisonment for street prostitution violations in Waikiki and designated areas, with option for 6-month probation subject to geographic restrictions

Added authority for counties to designate zones of significant prostitution-related activity, limited to no more than four areas statewide

DEFINITION

Defined 'Waikiki' as area bounded by Ala Wai canal, ocean, and Kapahulu avenue, and created new definition for 'Area' as zones designated by county ordinance

TIMELINE

Set effective date of April 23, 2057 for the new provisions

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 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 23) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 23).

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Poepoe, Amato, Kapela, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Apr 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 3:15PM; Conference Room 325.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 433).

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 20, 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, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Hashem.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1209) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 122) 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 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Chang.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to PSM/HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

9 primary · 4 co-sponsors