HB 1626 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO YOUTH PENALTIES.

Summary

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Encourages the use of community service and other programs that employ aina-based principles. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1626_HD1 → HB1626_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transitioned from the House to the Senate, resulting in technical updates to metadata and dates. Substantive policy changes include clarifying the conditions for releasing minors from room confinement, adjusting the specific hours and fine amounts for certain alcohol-related offenses, and refining the criteria for placing children in private care facilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on juvenile justice and traffic offenses, but specific eligibility criteria for certain penalties and the procedural rules for room confinement have been modified.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that release from room confinement occurs immediately when a minor exhibits self-control and is no longer a threat, removing redundant phrasing.

Adjusted the duration of community service and imprisonment, as well as the fine amounts, for specific alcohol-related violations to align with updated sentencing guidelines.

Refined the conditions under which a child may be placed in a private institution or agency authorized by the court.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata, including author names, revision numbers, and effective dates, reflecting the transition from the House to the Senate version.

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

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3188) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 144).

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Kila, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 379-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Takenouchi.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

16 primary · 0 co-sponsors