Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 896: RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

Provides for a sentence of death or life imprisonment without possibility of parole upon a conviction for sex trafficking. Requires a separate sentencing proceeding by a jury, except if waived by the defendant, for a conviction for sex trafficking. Makes commercial sexual exploitation a class A felony. Makes conforming amendments.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates death penalty or life without parole for sex trafficking, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 953: RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Prohibits persons from operating a medical cannabis dispensary or producing, manufacturing, or selling cannabis products without a license from the Department of Health. Prohibits individuals from providing certain services to individuals engaging in unlicensed cannabis operations. Requires the Department of Health to send a cease and desist notice to violators. Establishes criminal penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes criminal penalties for unlicensed cannabis operations, expanding criminalization in medical cannabis regulation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1746: RELATING TO FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION.

HB 1746 establishes a rapid DNA investigative lead program within the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), allowing officers to quickly test DNA evidence from crime scenes to identify suspects. The bill appropriates funding to support this program, directly affecting HPD operations and criminal investigations. Key provisions include creating a dedicated unit to process DNA samples rapidly (within hours instead of weeks) to generate investigative leads. This program aims to expedite solving violent crimes by leveraging immediate DNA analysis, with no mention of broader public impact beyond law enforcement use.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds rapid DNA program for HPD to expedite solving violent crimes, enhancing law enforcement investigative efficiency within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2419: RELATING TO HEALTH.

SB 2419 amends the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to exclude drug testing products (like home test kits or workplace screening tools) from the legal definition of "drug paraphernalia." This change directly affects individuals and businesses using these products, such as employers conducting drug screenings or healthcare providers administering tests. The bill’s key mechanism is a specific statutory revision that removes these items from a category historically subject to criminal penalties. It does not alter drug use laws but clarifies that testing tools themselves are not illegal under current drug paraphernalia statutes. The bill is currently in committee referral with no further action taken.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves drug testing products from 'drug paraphernalia' definition, eliminating criminal penalties for their use. This reduces unnecessary criminalization, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 3142: RELATING TO DANGEROUS INTOXICATION.

Establishes the offenses of dangerous intoxication and habitual dangerous intoxication. Provides for civil protective custody and transport for emergency examination in lieu of arrest for dangerous intoxication in specified circumstances, and bars prosecution when civil protective custody is used. Requires probation with mandatory treatment for habitual dangerous intoxication, with incarceration only upon probation violation. Makes conforming amendments to chapter 334, HRS, relating to admission to psychiatric facilities and assisted community treatment. Delays implementation by one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces arrest with civil protective custody and mandates treatment over incarceration for habitual cases, promoting rehabilitation and reducing criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 2589: RELATING TO DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

Clarifies that negligent homicide in the first degree shall include situations where a person causes the death of another person while operating a vehicle without a valid license. Establishes that a violation of this provision shall be a class B felony, with escalation to a class A felony when the person has two or more prior convictions for driving without a valid license within five years. Clarifies what constitutes a prior conviction for driving without a valid license. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties to Class A felony and vehicle forfeiture for driving without license, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per oppose indicators.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases penalties for dangerous driving without license causing death, enhancing road safety through stricter enforcement of vehicle regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Driver Licensing

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signed · Hawaii · House Jul 7, 2026

HB 1959: 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. Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Legislature. Effective 6/29/2026. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes petty misdemeanor offense for domestic abuse and allows deferred guilty pleas, promoting diversion over incarceration to reduce recidivism and improve case management.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 3331: RELATING TO FAMILY SAFETY.

Establishes comprehensive reforms to protect children and families from abuse and improve systemic responses. Part I: Establishes the calendar year 2027 as the Year of Resilience, Safety, and Survivor Justice. Part II: Modernizes statutory definitions of harm and child abuse. Part III: Recognizes coercive control as domestic abuse. Part IV: Reforms Family Court procedures to prioritize child safety and prohibit parental alienation theories. Part V: Defines economic abuse and strengthens financial protections, including automatic restraining orders, emergency hearings, forensic accounting authority, and liability for financial institutions. Part VI: Safeguards neurodivergent children and prohibits diagnosis shopping. Part VII: Protects reproductive privacy in custody proceedings. Part VIII: Enhances Child Welfare Services Branch accountability through audits and creation of a Child Welfare Ombudsman. Part IX: Requires automatic protective orders and custody restrictions in cases of severe violence. Part X: Creates a Family Violence Docket with mandatory judicial training and an advisory panel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeModernizes abuse definitions, recognizes coercive control, reforms Family Court to prioritize child safety - strengthens legal protections within criminal justice system85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 483: RELATING TO HAWAII COVERT OPERATIONS.

Establishes the Hawaii Covert Operations Against Smuggling and Transnational Threats program with the Department of Law Enforcement to combat smuggling of drugs and weapons and human trafficking.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes new law enforcement program targeting drug/weapons smuggling and trafficking, strengthening enforcement efforts against specific crimes per bill's purpose.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 285: RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Prohibits the possession, transfer, and sale of ghost guns. Establishes mandatory minimum sentencing for use of a ghost gun in the commission of a felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeImposes mandatory minimums for ghost gun felonies, increasing sentencing severity without reform elements90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Sentencing

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