Criminal Justice

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2249: RELATING TO BRIBERY.

SB 2249 establishes increased penalties for bribery offenses under certain circumstances. The bill specifically targets bribery by raising criminal penalties when specific conditions apply, though the abstract does not detail those conditions or identify which individuals or entities would be directly affected. Key provisions involve modifying penalty structures for bribery convictions, but the official abstract provides no further specifics on the circumstances or mechanisms. As the bill is currently pending introduction (with no committee referrals finalized), no concrete policy changes have been enacted. The summary is based solely on the provided abstract, which lacks details on affected parties or exact penalty levels.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for bribery offenses, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of strengthening punitive measures without reform elements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2518: RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SB 2518 increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers in the first degree, which is the most serious category of such assault. It directly affects individuals convicted of attacking officers and strengthens legal consequences for these offenses. The bill establishes stricter sentencing requirements, including longer prison terms, for first-degree assault against police officers. This changes the current penalty structure to impose harsher punishments for this specific crime.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaulting officers with stricter sentencing and longer prison terms, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher punishment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2516: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

SB 2516 creates a new penalty system for obstructing criminal investigations, directly affecting individuals who interfere with law enforcement (e.g., witnesses lying or defendants tampering with evidence). It replaces a flat penalty with a "gradient structure," meaning punishments increase based on the severity of the original crime being obstructed. For example, hindering a murder investigation would carry a harsher penalty than obstructing a minor traffic violation case. This change aims to make sentencing more proportional to the seriousness of the underlying offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens penalties for obstructing investigations, directly enhancing law enforcement's ability to prosecute crimes and aligning with 'Hindering Prosecution' subject.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3072: RELATING TO THEFT.

Requires a mandatory twelve-month minimum sentence of incarceration, without the possibility of parole, for a conviction of theft in the first degree when the value of the property or services stolen exceeds $250,000, whether imposed as a mandatory minimum sentence for an indeterminate term of imprisonment or as a condition of probation, in addition to any other authorized disposition such as restitution or a fine. (SD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates 12-month minimum sentence for high-value theft, increasing mandatory penalties without judicial discretion, opposing criminal justice reform efforts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3071: RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS.

Clarifies and updates the sex trafficking and promoting prostitution criminal offense statutes by refining the definition of "profits from prostitution," establishing an affirmative defense to these offenses for certain lawful transactions, and making technical and other housekeeping amendments. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAffirmative defense for lawful transactions prevents over-criminalization, aligning with reform by protecting civil rights in sex trafficking/prostitution statutes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2274: RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Repeals statutory language that currently authorizes the Department of Law Enforcement to: (1) inspect a qualifying medical cannabis patient's medical records held by the health provider who issued a written certification for the qualifying patient; and (2) suspend or revoke a health provider's ability to issue written certification for medical cannabis if the provider refuses the foregoing inspection, or if the medical records do not comply with the medical use of cannabis law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals DLE inspection/suspension powers for medical cannabis, reducing enforcement and criminalization of medical use.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals inspection requirement for medical cannabis records, protecting patient-provider confidentiality and supporting access to medical cannabis care under healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2457: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Amends forfeiture laws to require the owner of property seized in relation to a crime to be convicted of the covered offense before the property may be forfeited.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires criminal conviction before property forfeiture, strengthening due process and protecting civil rights in criminal justice proceedings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2843: RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Extends for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021, relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses. Effective 6/29/2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes petty misdemeanor offense and deferred plea for domestic violence, promoting diversion over incarceration and clarifying penalties to improve case handling within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 2540: RELATING TO YOUTH PENALTIES.

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Encourages the use of community service and other programs that employ aina-based principles. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. Effective 7/1/2027. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits fees/fines for minors, discharges debt, and encourages restorative community service, reducing financial barriers and promoting rehabilitation in juvenile justice.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 2871: RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Prohibits discrimination based on the perception that a person possesses certain characteristics, the perception that a person is associated with a person who possesses, or is perceived to possess, certain characteristics, or the intersection or combination of two or more specified characteristics in relation to a person. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAnti-discrimination provisions prevent bias in systems affecting marginalized groups, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like fair treatment and reducing discriminatory practices.70% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits workplace discrimination based on perception, association, or intersectionality of characteristics, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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