SB 1028 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO YOUTH FEES AND FINES.

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. Limits court-ordered community service for a minor to no more than seventy-two hours. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1028_HD2 → SB1028_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Hawaii statutes to prohibit courts from imposing fines, fees, and court costs on minors and their parents for traffic and other offenses. Instead of paying money, courts are now authorized to order community service (up to 72 hours) as an alternative penalty. The legislation also expands the list of youth disproportionately affected by these costs to include Black youth and clarifies that judges rarely impose these fees in practice.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of protection by explicitly including Black youth alongside Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth as disproportionately impacted by court fees. It also extends the prohibition on financial penalties to a broader range of traffic-related statutes and clarifies that community service is the preferred alternative to fines.

ELIGIBILITY

Added 'Black youth' to the list of demographics disproportionately affected by court fees and fines.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the blanket prohibition on fines with a mandate that courts order community service (max 72 hours) in place of financial penalties for minors and their parents in traffic cases.

Updated the legislative findings to note that judges rarely impose fees in practice and that unpaid debts often exceed the revenue collected.

Removed the specific limit on community service hours for minors in general statutes, replacing it with a consistent 72-hour limit tied specifically to the substitution of community service for fines.

SB1028 → SB1028_HD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally shifts Hawaii's approach to juvenile justice by prohibiting courts from imposing fines, fees, or court costs on minors or their parents for offenses committed while the minor was under 18. Instead of monetary penalties, the bill mandates that any required community service be limited to a maximum of 72 hours and ensures that detention and shelter costs are covered by the court rather than the family. The legislation also repeals specific financial penalties for parents regarding unaccompanied minors in public spaces and removes restitution requirements for school vandalism under certain conditions.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of financial protections for minors by applying a blanket prohibition on fines and fees across multiple chapters of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, including traffic offenses, DUI-related charges, and juvenile court proceedings. It also introduces new protections for minors in detention facilities and modifies procedures for handling vandalism in schools.

REQUIREMENT

Courts are now prohibited from levying any fines, fees, or court costs against minors or their parents for offenses committed while the minor was under 18, with the exception of restitution to victims.

Community service ordered for minors is now strictly limited to a maximum of 72 hours and cannot interfere with school or work commitments.

Specific financial penalties previously imposed on parents for leaving unaccompanied minors in streets or dance halls, as well as restitution requirements for school vandalism, have been repealed or modified.

New provisions require courts to consider the minor's age, maturity, and mental state before allowing minors to be held in adult jails or have contact with adult inmates.

ELIGIBILITY

Parents and guardians are exempt from paying for blood or urine tests, driver education assessments, and compensation fees associated with their minor child's offenses.

FISCAL

All costs associated with detaining or sheltering minors, including room confinement, must now be borne by the court, removing the financial burden from the minor's family.

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 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 666).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Chun, Holt, Lamosao, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kila, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

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, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Hashem.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1277) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 239) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 9:25AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor