Criminal Justice

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 17, 2026

SB 2382: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program to be administered by the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to eligible sworn law enforcement officers that have worked a minimum of two thousand hours during the preceding fiscal year, subject to collective bargaining negotiations. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Appropriates funds for the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $15,000 retention bonuses for law enforcement, directly funding staffing needs through state budget authority per bill's appropriation language.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds $15k retention bonuses for law enforcement officers to address staffing shortages, strengthening frontline operations within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds $15k retention bonuses for law enforcement officers, supporting compensation and subject to collective bargaining negotiations.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 3108: RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE CEILING ON THE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SPECIAL FUND.

Removes the $600,000 annual expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund to address rising program costs and growing victim service demands. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves $600k annual spending ceiling to fund rising victim service costs, directly enabling increased budget allocation for essential program needs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves $600k annual cap on victim notification system fund to address rising costs and victim service demands, directly funding a criminal justice victim support program.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 2749: RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Amends repeat offender sentencing provisions to allow sentencing courts, under certain circumstances, to sentence defendants in class C felony cases to probation with appropriate terms and conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows probation for repeat offenders in class C felonies, reducing incarceration and supporting rehabilitation-focused sentencing reform.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 2824: RELATING TO BRIBERY.

SB 2824 creates a new misdemeanor offense for individuals who fail to report known bribery. Specifically, it requires public officials or employees who witness or learn about bribery to report it to authorities, and not doing so becomes a punishable offense. The bill directly affects government employees, contractors, and others with potential knowledge of bribery in public contexts. This policy change establishes a clear legal duty to report bribery incidents, adding a new layer of accountability to existing anti-bribery laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public officials to report bribery, enhancing accountability in criminal justice system by preventing corruption among officials.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 2383: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to all eligible sworn law enforcement officers who meet specified requirements. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to verify eligibility. Appropriates funds for the payment of retention bonuses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $15,000 retention bonuses for law enforcement, increasing state spending on public safety programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds $15k retention bonuses for law enforcement officers, directly supporting personnel stability within criminal justice system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1321: RELATING TO THE HAWAII CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.

Beginning July 1, 2025, extends the term of the Oversight Coordinator for the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission. Clarifies that the Oversight Coordinator has the general authority to inspect agencies and correctional facilities without notice. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies oversight authority to inspect facilities without notice, strengthening commission's monitoring role in corrections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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