HB 1548 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Summary

Limits the maximum term of imprisonment for misdemeanors that are not crimes of violence, or for offenses that are not crimes of violence punishable by up to or not exceeding one year, to three hundred sixty-four days. Allows individuals previously sentenced to a one-year term of imprisonment for an offense that is not a crime of violence to apply to the trial court for reconsideration of the sentence to conform to the revised maximum penalty. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed Jun 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1548_HD1 → HB1548_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates sentencing limits for nonviolent offenses, reducing the maximum prison term to 364 days for misdemeanors and crimes punishable by up to one year, while explicitly excluding violent crimes from this reduction. It also clarifies that individuals previously sentenced to one year for nonviolent offenses can apply to have their sentences modified to fit the new limit. The effective date was moved from the distant future of July 1, 3000, to March 22, 2075.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed to specifically apply only to nonviolent offenses, whereas the previous version applied broadly to all offenses punishable by up to one year.

SCOPE

The reduction of the maximum prison term to 364 days now applies only to nonviolent offenses, excluding crimes of violence from the limit.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for sentence modification for those previously sentenced to one year is now restricted to offenses that are not crimes of violence.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 3000, to March 22, 2075.

DEFINITION

A new definition for 'crime of violence' was added, referencing the existing definition in section 134-1.

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

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Kila, Olds, Pierick voting no (4) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 69-26).

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 69-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Poepoe; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 04-29-26 2:20PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 583) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 24, 2026

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, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 242).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Gedeon, Kila, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Takayama.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

11 primary · 1 co-sponsor