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SB 277 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST MINORS.

Summary
Increases the penalty for promoting minor-produced sexual images to a felony if the person is more than 3 years older than the minor. Extends the probationary term for felony obscenity offenses. Tolls the statute of limitations for obscenity offenses during a victim's minority. Requires sex offender registration for felony obscenity offenses involving minors. (SD1)
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for sexual offenses against minors, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing, opposing reform efforts.90% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Feb 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB277 → SB277_SD1 · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the definition of 'sexual offense' to include new state statutes related to computer use in crimes and electronic enticement, while clarifying age-based exclusions for perpetrators. It also expands the list of offenses that trigger mandatory sex offender registration to include these newly defined acts and comparable out-of-state crimes.
Scope change
The bill broadens the scope of offenses requiring sex offender registration by adding specific computer-related crimes and electronic enticement to the list of covered offenses.
DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'sexual offense' to explicitly include acts involving computer use in the commission of a separate crime under section 708-893.

Added electronic enticement of a child under sections 707-756 and 707-757 to the list of covered offenses.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that conduct criminal only because of the victim's age is excluded from the definition if the perpetrator is under 18, and added an exclusion for perpetrators under 25 regarding specific offenses.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded the list of offenses triggering Tier 1 sex offender registration to include the newly added computer and electronic enticement crimes.

Updated the reference to covered offenses in the registration requirements to include the new paragraphs added to the definition.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2167) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to HHS, JDC.
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and passed First Reading.
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Pending Introduction.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ron Kouchi
Ron Kouchi
DDemocratic
HI
8