SB 2516 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

SB 2516 creates a new penalty system for obstructing criminal investigations, directly affecting individuals who interfere with law enforcement (e.g., witnesses lying or defendants tampering with evidence). It replaces a flat penalty with a "gradient structure," meaning punishments increase based on the severity of the original crime being obstructed. For example, hindering a murder investigation would carry a harsher penalty than obstructing a minor traffic violation case. This change aims to make sentencing more proportional to the seriousness of the underlying offense.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2516 → SB2516_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the penalty for hindering prosecution by establishing a specific 'gradient' system that lowers the charge severity based on the crime the offender is trying to stop. Previously, the penalty was a single fixed class; now, the charge is automatically downgraded depending on whether the underlying crime was a felony or misdemeanor.

Scope change

The bill expands the applicability of the penalty structure to include cases where the underlying offense is not formally designated by class or grade under Hawaii law, requiring courts to find a comparable offense to determine the penalty.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the penalty for hindering prosecution from a single fixed class to a tiered system where the charge is downgraded based on the severity of the crime being hindered.

Added a specific rule for cases where the underlying crime lacks a formal class designation, instructing courts to find the most comparable Hawaii offense to apply the correct penalty tier.

DEFINITION

Defined the specific penalty reductions for each underlying offense level, ranging from class B felonies for class A crimes down to petty misdemeanors for petty misdemeanors.

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 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 251) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-24-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2133) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-02-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors