SB 2494 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CORRUPTION.

SB 2494 establishes a 9-year time limit for prosecuting bribery offenses, replacing the current statute of limitations. This bill directly affects individuals accused of bribery and prosecutors handling such cases, as it sets a specific window for bringing charges. The key provision is the fixed 9-year period from the date of the alleged offense, ensuring all bribery cases must be filed within this timeframe. The bill is currently under review by the Public Safety and Municipal Affairs committee, with a scheduled hearing.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Jul 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2494_CD1 → SB2494_HD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from a Senate draft to a House draft, updating the author and document metadata. The most significant substantive change is the effective date of the new nine-year statute of limitations for bribery offenses, which was moved from immediate approval to July 1, 3000.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same, but its applicability timeline was drastically altered to a future date.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the new bribery statute of limitations was changed from 'upon approval' to 'July 1, 3000'.

TECHNICAL

The bill author was changed from Ainoa Naniole to Patrick Comiso, and the document type was updated from Senate to House.

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

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga).

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 12-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 12-26).

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 04-22-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 477).

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Olds, Quinlan excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 57).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-24-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-04-26 3:02PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 3:02PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM, JDC.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

7 primary · 2 co-sponsors