SB 2688 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO COMPASSIONATE RELEASE.

SB 2688 establishes a state protocol for releasing incarcerated individuals who are seriously ill or debilitated due to medical conditions. It directly affects people in state custody with severe health issues who meet specific medical criteria. The bill creates a formal process for prison officials to evaluate and approve compassionate release requests, replacing current ad-hoc practices. Currently, the bill is under review by the PSM committee, having passed its first reading on January 26, 2026, with a public hearing scheduled for February 4, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Apr 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2688_HD1 → SB2688_SD1 · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill significantly expands compassionate release eligibility to include those with chronic conditions and removes the life-without-parole barrier for most inmates, while also clarifying that the state must actively identify candidates rather than waiting for applications. The changes aim to reduce high medical costs by moving terminally ill or severely disabled individuals to community care sooner. Funding is appropriated for implementation, and the effective date is set to July 1, 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a limited protocol for terminal illness to include chronic conditions and cognitive impairment, and it now applies to nearly all incarcerated persons regardless of sentence length, excluding only those sentenced to life without possibility of parole.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility criteria to include 'chronic' conditions in addition to terminal illness or irreversible conditions, and added a category for those too ill to participate in rehabilitation or aware of punishment.

Removed the exclusion for persons serving mandatory minimum sentences or life without parole, making them eligible for release unless sentenced to life without possibility of parole.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the director's duty from ensuring persons are identified by the department to having an affirmative duty to actively identify eligible persons themselves.

Added a requirement for the authority to notify victims and prosecuting attorneys when a release is granted.

Removed the requirement for a temporary working group to cease existing after 2028, instead making the working group a standing entity.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'older incarcerated persons' in the findings section to align with the National Institute of Corrections standard of fifty-five years or older.

FISCAL

Appropriated funds for the Department of Corrections to implement the new requirements and secure adequate healthcare facility placements.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill structure, moving the appropriation and effective date sections and updating the title to reflect new priorities like reporting.

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. 689).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Kila, Kitagawa, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon, Matayoshi, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Lee, M., Templo, Reyes Oda; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1552-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 20

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to PBS, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 281) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 10:35AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2366) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Inouye; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on PSM has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on PSM has deleted the measure from decision making scheduled on 02-09-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

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/WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors