HB 239 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE.

Summary

Amends the definition of "child abuse or neglect" to clarify that the failure to provide certain needs to a child shall not constitute child abuse or neglect if the sole reason the person responsible for the care of the child is unable to adequately provide for the child's care is lack of financial resources; and evidence of parental request for support shall not be deemed as evidence of child abuse and neglect. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB239_HD1 → HB239_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends the legal definition of child abuse and neglect to explicitly state that a parent's inability to provide basic needs due to a lack of financial resources does not constitute abuse. It also adds a specific provision stating that a parent's request for financial support cannot be used as evidence of child abuse or neglect in legal proceedings.

Scope change

The scope of the definition of 'child abuse or neglect' was expanded to include financial circumstances as a valid defense against abuse charges, while simultaneously clarifying that seeking financial aid is not evidence of neglect.

DEFINITION

Added a clause clarifying that failure to provide needs due to lack of financial resources is not child abuse or neglect.

Added a clause stating that evidence of a parental request for support shall not be considered evidence of child abuse or neglect.

Updated the statutory language to include these new clarifications within the definition of child abuse and neglect in the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-25-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1190) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Keohokalole.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 202).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kahaloa, Garcia, Shimizu.

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 255) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors