Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

SB 2568: RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Elevates the offense of harassment to a misdemeanor when committed against a public servant because of or during their performance of official duties. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeElevates harassment against public servants to misdemeanor, strengthening legal protections for law enforcement and court personnel, supporting criminal justice system functionality.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · House Jul 7, 2026

HB 1960: RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program, or approve externally developed programs, to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector. Requires transient accommodations employers or transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers, keep records of the training, post signage, and develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking. Establishes penalties. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to adopt rules. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires trafficking awareness training, reporting procedures, and prevention policies to combat human trafficking crimes, strengthening criminal justice prevention efforts.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates human trafficking training for workers in transient accommodations sector, directly enhancing workplace safety and protecting against exploitation per bill's requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 1870: RELATING TO PROTECTED COMMUNITY LOCATIONS.

By 1/1/2027, requires all state and county agencies that operate protected community locations to adopt and post written policies that identify nonpublic areas, establish procedures for warrant verification and staff response, prohibit the collection of certain immigration-status data, and require annual staff training and certain multilingual notices. Requires the Attorney General to publish model policies. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts law enforcement participation in civil immigration enforcement near community services (schools, health care, shelters), promoting trust and access to essential services while aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing ...85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill designates schools as protected community locations to limit immigration enforcement, ensuring safe access to education and protecting students/staff from disruption in educational settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare facilities from immigration enforcement, ensuring access to services without fear of deportation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects shelters (housing services) from immigration enforcement, ensuring access to housing for vulnerable populations in protected community locations.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill limits state/local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement near protected community locations (schools, health facilities), safeguarding immigrant access to essential services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 99: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as a school resource officer identified by the Department of Law Enforcement or other law enforcement agency as a labor shortage or difficult-to-fill position and stationed at a public school, subject to certain conditions. Establishes criteria for various agencies to use in identifying labor shortage or difficult-to-fill positions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction or the human resources management chief executive of each county to include in their annual reports to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as school resource officers. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables retirees to fill law enforcement roles (school resource officers) in critical positions, addressing labor shortages within criminal justice workforce needs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables retirees to fill school resource officer roles without losing benefits, addressing labor shortages in K-12 school staffing per DOE designation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 2505: RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Clarifies that community mental health outpatient programs that have agreed to provide mental health services to a defendant as part of an assisted community treatment order may prepare a certificate for assisted community treatment and provide the certificate to a defendant and may file an assisted community treatment petition with the Family Court. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes timely assisted community treatment for defendants, diverting them from incarceration to mental health care, reducing recidivism and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires streamlined process for community mental health treatment, improving patient access to outpatient care and reducing involuntary hospitalization delays.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 2289: RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE CEILING ON THE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SPECIAL FUND.

Repeals the statutory expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund to address rising program costs and growing victim service demands. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves $600k annual expenditure ceiling on victim services fund to address rising costs, enabling necessary funding for essential programs.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves $600k expenditure ceiling on victim notification system fund to expand victim services within criminal justice system, directly funding victim support programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · House May 26, 2026

HB 1518: RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Human Services, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to establish a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process for inmates nearing release. Allows all individuals convicted of an offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance to apply for SNAP benefits, regardless of treatment status. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides SNAP access to inmates nearing release (including drug offenders), removing barriers to reentry and supporting rehabilitation to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2575: RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Changes from a misdemeanor to a class C felony the penalty for possessing, controlling, or transferring ownership of any firearm or ammunition by a person who is restrained by court order from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class B felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes unlawful possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class B felony. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentences for firearm possession during felony prosecutions, expanding criminalization and reducing judicial discretion per bill's penalty enhancements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2919: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

SB 2919 appropriates funds to hire one full-time equivalent Deputy Public Defender III position within the Office of the Public Defender. This bill directly affects the Office of the Public Defender by providing dedicated staffing resources for their operations. The key provision is the allocation of state funds specifically for this new staff role, which would support the office's capacity to represent indigent defendants in court. The bill does not create new legal requirements or change existing laws, focusing solely on budgetary support for personnel.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to hire a public defender position, directly funding a public service essential to legal representation for indigent defendants.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds additional public defender staffing to improve representation for indigent defendants, strengthening public defense capacity within criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 2438: RELATING TO CIVIL INTERFERENCE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS.

Establishes a civil cause of action for interference with constitutional and statutory rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion. Authorizes private rights of action. Authorizes actions to be brought by the Attorney General, County Corporation Counsel, or County Attorney. Authorizes injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and certain monetary relief. Includes protections for constitutionally protected speech. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes civil remedies for constitutional rights violations, protecting individuals from interference in legal proceedings per Hawaii Civil Rights Protection Act.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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