SB 2731 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Summary

Limits the maximum term of imprisonment for misdemeanors, or for offenses punishable by up to or not exceeding one year, to three hundred sixty-four days. Allows individuals previously sentenced to a one-year term of imprisonment to apply to the court for a sentence modification to conform to the new limit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Apr 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2731_HD1 → SB2731_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends sentencing laws to cap imprisonment for nonviolent misdemeanors at 364 days instead of one year. It explicitly excludes 'crimes of violence' from this cap and creates a new process for people previously sentenced to one year for nonviolent offenses to apply for a sentence reduction.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by adding an exemption for 'crimes of violence,' meaning the 364-day cap now only applies to nonviolent offenses.

ELIGIBILITY

The 364-day sentence cap now applies only to offenses that are not crimes of violence; violent offenses remain subject to the original one-year maximum.

REQUIREMENT

A new provision allows individuals previously sentenced to one year for nonviolent offenses to apply to the court to modify their sentence to the new 364-day limit.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the bill was changed from a distant future date (July 1, 3000) to upon the bill's approval.

DEFINITION

A specific definition for 'crime of violence' was added, referencing the existing definition in section 134-1.

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. 696).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Cochran, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Kila, Olds, Pierick voting no (4) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 31, 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, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 289) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 25, 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

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 9:05AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors