HB 1790 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO POLICING.

Summary

Establishes the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to house the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires law enforcement agencies and law enforcement oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding law enforcement stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires the Hawaii Crime Lab to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to adopt rules, in coordination with the Hawaii Crime Lab, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and any community advisory boards. Appropriates funds for the establishment and operation of the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to support implementation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1790_HD1 → HB1790_HD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision establishes a new Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research at the University of Hawaii to house the existing Hawaii Crime Lab, ensuring independent oversight of policing data. It expands data collection requirements to include specific ethnic categories (including Hawaiian) and cognitive impairment status, while also adding a requirement for the Attorney General to consult with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs when adopting rules. The revision appropriates state funding to support the new center's operations and technical infrastructure.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include the creation of a new research center and added consultation requirements for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and community advisory boards in the rule-making process.

FISCAL

Added an appropriation of state funds to establish and operate the new Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Hawaiian' to ensure consistent reporting standards across the state.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Attorney General to consult with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and community advisory boards when adopting data collection rules.

Expanded data reporting requirements to include specific ethnic breakdowns (including Hawaiian) and cognitive impairment status for stops, uses of force, and complaints.

TECHNICAL

Established the new research center with specific duties to maintain data standards, ensure quality assurance, and conduct independent research on policing practices.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU/PSM, WAM/JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 289).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Pierick excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Yamashita, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Perruso.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Gedeon, Matsumoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 749-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 18, 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, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama.

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 126-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HED, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

18 primary · 0 co-sponsors