HB 1769 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Summary

Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally return committed felons incarcerated in private, out-of-state correctional institutions to in-state correctional facilities. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Apr 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1769_HD2 → HB1769_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the timeline for returning inmates from private out-of-state prisons to Hawaii, accelerating the initial phase to start in 2027 instead of 2029 and increasing the annual return rate from 5% to 15% over three years. It also clarifies that the State, rather than just Hawaii, must transition to a more rehabilitative corrections system and changes the reporting instructions for future legislative sessions.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the return of inmates remains the same, but the specific requirements for when and how many inmates must be returned have been significantly accelerated.

TIMELINE

The start date for returning inmates was moved forward from July 1, 2029, to July 1, 2027.

The annual return rate was increased from a flat 5% starting in 2031 to a graduated schedule of 5% in 2027, 10% in 2028, and 15% in 2029.

REQUIREMENT

The legislative findings were updated to specify that the 'State' must transition toward a rehabilitative system, and reporting instructions were adjusted to align with the new 2027 timeline.

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 14, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 526) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Apr 8, 2026

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, DeCoite, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Elefante ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3290) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Inouye.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM, WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 286).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 25, 2026

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, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 601-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on PBS did not hear this measure. The committee recommends the measure be heard on 02-11-26, 8:30AM.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to PBS, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors