SB 2518 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SB 2518 increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers in the first degree, which is the most serious category of such assault. It directly affects individuals convicted of attacking officers and strengthens legal consequences for these offenses. The bill establishes stricter sentencing requirements, including longer prison terms, for first-degree assault against police officers. This changes the current penalty structure to impose harsher punishments for this specific crime.

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

SB2518 → SB2518_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill expands the definition of assault against a law enforcement officer to include recklessly causing serious or substantial bodily injury, while also increasing the mandatory prison sentence for such offenses. The changes aim to strengthen penalties to better protect officers and deter violence, with the new rules taking effect on March 22, 2075.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to cover reckless acts causing serious or substantial bodily injury, which were previously not explicitly included in the first-degree assault definition for law enforcement.

DEFINITION

Added 'recklessly causing serious or substantial bodily injury' as a specific condition that constitutes assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased the mandatory minimum prison sentence for first-degree assault against a law enforcement officer from thirty days to six months.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from immediate approval to March 22, 2075.

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. 253) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura. Noes, 0 (none). 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: 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 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. 2126) 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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; 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