SB 2203 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SB 2203 makes it a criminal offense for law enforcement officers to wear masks or personal disguises while performing official duties. The bill directly affects police officers and other sworn law enforcement personnel by prohibiting this specific conduct during enforcement activities. Its key provision creates a new legal standard, defining the use of disguises as an offense punishable under state law. This bill focuses solely on regulating officer conduct during operations, without addressing broader policing policies or community impacts. The bill is currently pending committee review and has not yet been voted on.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Apr 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2203_SD1_SFA1 → SB2203_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill transforms a previous amendment into a complete legislative act that establishes a new misdemeanor offense for law enforcement officers wearing masks or facial coverings while interacting with the public. The change shifts the document from a partial amendment to a full bill including findings, a new statute in the Penal Code, and standard legislative sections on severability and effective dates.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a specific amendment to an entire act covering the definition of the offense, specific exemptions for undercover work or tactical teams, and the effective date of the law.

SCOPE

Added a new misdemeanor offense prohibiting law enforcement officers from wearing masks or facial coverings that obscure their identity while interacting with the public.

DEFINITION

Defined key terms including 'law enforcement officer,' 'mask or facial covering,' and 'law enforcement agency,' while explicitly excluding medical masks, weather gear, and tactical protective equipment from the prohibition.

TIMELINE

Established the effective date of the act as March 22, 2075, and included standard clauses regarding the retroactivity and severability of the new law.

TECHNICAL

Removed the original Senate Floor Amendment header and formatting, replacing it with the full text of a new bill for an act.

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 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 635).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 14

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 5) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment adopted as amended (SD 2).

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment No. 1 offered.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM/EIG, JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

7 primary · 2 co-sponsors