Criminal Justice

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 36: RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a medical examiner, coroner, or health care provider from stating on a certificate of death or in any report that the cause of death was excited delirium. Prohibits law enforcement officers from using the term excited delirium to describe an individual in an incident report. Establishes a new Hawaii Rule of Evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement and medical professionals from using 'excited delirium' in death reports, preventing potential misuse to avoid accountability in officer-involved deaths.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 722: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a felony offense where the property owner has been convicted of an underlying felony offense. Directs forfeiture proceeds to the general fund. Amends the allowable expenses for moneys in the Criminal Forfeiture Fund. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Amends the deadline for the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the use of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Limits the transfer of certain forfeiture property to federal agencies. Establishes records requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts civil forfeiture to felony convictions with prior conviction, reducing overreach and protecting property rights per criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Track

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

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 129: RELATING TO YOUTH FEES AND FINES.

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. Limits court-ordered community service for a minor to no more than seventy-two hours. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits youth fees/fines, limits community service, and repeals penalties - reducing financial barriers in juvenile justice, aligning with reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2729: RELATING TO POLICING.

Requires law enforcement agencies and police oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding law enforcement stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab affiliated with the University of Hawaii. Requires the Hawaii Crime Lab to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to adopt rules, in coordination with the Hawaii Crime Lab.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates data collection on stops/force/complaints to enhance police accountability and transparency, directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2179: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

By 1/1/2027, requires all law enforcement agencies in the State to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers. Requires law enforcement agencies to maintain confidential, accurate records documenting each officer's adherence to the agency's visible identification policy. Prohibits state and county law enforcement agencies from assisting any law enforcement operation conducted by a federal law enforcement agency that fails or refuses to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers that meets the standards of state law. By 1/1/2027, requires state and county law enforcement agencies to maintain a policy on the minimum requirements to cooperate with a federal law enforcement agency enforcing federal immigration laws in the State.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates officer identification policies and accountability records, enhancing police transparency and oversight per criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2085: RELATING TO ELDER CRIME VICTIMS.

HB 2085 removes a legal requirement that prosecutors must prove a perpetrator specifically intended to target an older adult during a felony assault. This change directly affects older adults (typically age 65+) who are victims of assault, making it easier to charge such assaults as felonies. The bill simplifies prosecution by eliminating the need to demonstrate the defendant's "state of mind" regarding the victim's age, meaning prosecutors can now pursue felony assault charges based solely on the victim's age without proving intent. This is a policy change to strengthen legal protections for elderly crime victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves intent requirement for elder assault prosecutions, strengthening victim protections and simplifying felony charges for vulnerable seniors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Tags Seniors

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 361: RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COURT.

Permanently establishes and appropriates funds for the Community Outreach Court as a division of the District Court of the First Circuit. Effective 4/23/2057. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes Community Outreach Court for homelessness diversion, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track