SB 526 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE WOMEN'S COURT.

Summary

Establishes a temporary three-year Women's Court Pilot Program within the second, third, and fifth circuits. Establishes temporary positions. Requires a report. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB526 → SB526_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was updated from a House version to a Senate District 1 version, changing the bill type and administrative codes. The most significant substantive change is the effective date, which was moved from July 1, 2025, to April 23, 2057, likely a clerical error given the bill's sunset date of 2028. The text also includes minor formatting adjustments and updates to the report description to reflect the correct pluralization of 'Appropriations' and the new effective date.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the Women's Court Pilot Program remains unchanged, but the effective date is now set to 2057, which conflicts with the sunset date of 2028.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from July 1, 2025, to April 23, 2057, creating a conflict with the bill's sunset date of June 30, 2028.

TECHNICAL

The bill type was updated from 'HB' (House Bill) to 'SMA' (Senate Member's Amendment) and the bill number designation changed to 'SD1'.

The report description was updated to pluralize 'Appropriation' to 'Appropriations' and include the new effective date.

Minor text formatting changes were made, such as capitalizing 'RELATING TO THE WOMEN'S COURT' and adjusting the legislative session header.

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

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 154) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

9 primary · 3 co-sponsors