Criminal Justice

passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 2325: RELATING TO JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Authorizes a court to modify sentences imposed on juvenile offenders if certain conditions are met and the court finds that, after considering certain factors, the defendant is not a danger to the safety of any person or the community and the modification is in the interests of justice. Establishes procedures, provides for hearings and representation by counsel, and authorizes appellate review. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes judicial sentence modification for juveniles based on safety and justice, promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1247: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

Allows a party aggrieved by the judgment of a circuit court on a minimum term order to appeal to the Intermediate Appellate Court. Requires prisoners to be represented by counsel in any petition challenging the minimum term proceedings. Requires the Supreme Court to establish rules. Establishes grounds for challenging a minimum term order. Appropriates funds. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires counsel for prisoners challenging minimum terms and establishes appeal grounds, enhancing due process in criminal proceedings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3251: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts hiring of former ICE agents, aligning with accountability reforms in law enforcement employment.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits hiring former ICE agents, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement - directly aligns with support indicator of restricting federal collaboration.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2494: RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations, and requires officers to document the justification for the arrests. Amends the circumstances under which officers may issue citations in lieu of arrest. Requires officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain petty misdemeanors and violations, unless public safety or flight risks are present or the alleged offense involves operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant or the abuse of family or household members. Requires the Judiciary to promulgate a standardized citation form and updates the required information for citations. Requires citations be visible on an offender's criminal record. Requires the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit reports. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates citations for petty offenses, requires arrest documentation, and limits warrantless arrests - directly advancing accountability and reducing unnecessary arrests per reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 2948: RELATING TO INSURANCE FRAUD.

Prohibits certain solicitation and inducement practices relating to insurance claims. Establishes disaster-related insurance fraud offenses. Broadens the scope of the offense of insurance fraud and the acts that constitute insurance fraud. Clarifies the penalties for the offense of insurance fraud and the capabilities and operations of the Insurance Fraud Investigations Branch, including the annual report to the Legislature and the use of fraud analytics. Reiterates protections for insurance fraud whistleblowers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens insurance fraud enforcement through enhanced penalties, investigations, and whistleblower protections, directly advancing criminal justice enforcement mechanisms.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2479: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

Allows a defendant to introduce certain evidence to receive a reduced sentence for certain offenses if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced. Allows a defendant to introduce certain relevant evidence when raising the justification defenses of self-defense or defense of others to show that the defendant was subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse by the alleged victim. Allows the circuit court imposing a criminal sentence to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed. Allows a person previously sentenced by a circuit court to petition the court to be re-sentenced to a reduced sentence if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows reduced sentences for defendants with family violence history, aligning with criminal justice reform by considering mitigating factors to reduce recidivism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 763: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund and appropriates funds, directly allocating state budget resources for a new program.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes Agricultural Enforcement Program with funding, strengthening law enforcement focus on agricultural theft within criminal justice framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 2830: RELATING TO MISCONDUCT BY A PUBLIC SERVANT.

Extends the statute of limitations for offenses based on misconduct in office by a public servant to allow prosecution at any time during the defendant's period of public service and up to ten years thereafter. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends statute of limitations for public servant misconduct prosecution, enhancing accountability in criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 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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