SB 428 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO WITNESS FEES.

Summary

Increases the fees paid to witnesses in civil and criminal trials. Changes the fees paid to witnesses in civil trials for travel expenses from 20 cents a mile to the mileage allowance prescribed by the Administrator of General Services. Authorizes reimbursement to witnesses in civil trials for use of common carriers. (CD1)

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

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB428_CD1 → SB428_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill increases witness compensation in Hawaii from outdated rates of $4 per day and 20 cents per mile to significantly higher amounts aligned with federal standards. The changes affect both civil and criminal cases, raising daily attendance fees to $30 for civil trials and $20 for criminal trials, while also adding per diem payments for out-of-state witnesses. The bill modernizes travel reimbursement by replacing the flat mileage rate with the federal General Services Administration allowance and allowing reimbursement for common carrier travel costs.

Scope change

The bill expands witness fee eligibility and increases compensation amounts for both civil and criminal trials, while also clarifying travel reimbursement rules for witnesses traveling from other islands or outside the state.

FISCAL

Increased civil witness daily attendance fee from $4 to $30, and criminal witness daily attendance fee from $4 to $20.

Replaced the flat 20 cents per mile travel reimbursement rate with the federal General Services Administration mileage allowance.

Added reimbursement for actual common carrier travel expenses in civil trials, requiring witnesses to use the most economical rate and provide receipts.

Added per diem payments for out-of-state witnesses ($250) and witnesses traveling from other Hawaiian islands ($55, plus $195 if overnight stay is required).

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 3000 (likely a placeholder or error that needs correction).

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 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 122) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

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

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 122).

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Kitagawa, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 23, 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, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 2:15PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-22-25 2:00PM; Conference Room 325.

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-21-25 2:00PM; Conference Room 325.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 646).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1294), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 11, 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, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 156).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:04AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 26) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors