Criminal Justice

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

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 3042: 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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows probation for repeat offenders in class C felonies, reducing mandatory prison time and promoting rehabilitation-focused sentencing reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2774: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

By January 1, 2027, requires each law enforcement agency operating in the State to maintain a publicly available policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers. Requires all law enforcement officers in the State to visibly display identification including certain information while performing enforcement duties. Exempts officers performing undercover duties from the visible display of identification requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires visible officer ID during enforcement, enhancing accountability - aligns with transparency reforms in law enforcement practices.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 58: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Amends the misdemeanor offense of criminal property damage in the third degree to include intentionally or knowingly damaging the property of another, if the property is used in a business operation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding business property damage to misdemeanor offenses, increasing penalties for property damage in commercial contexts.90% confidence

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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

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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

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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

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 198: RELATING TO TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.

Increases the mandatory minimum jail sentence for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Requires mandatory mental health counseling for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory jail sentence for TRO violations, aligning with tough-on-crime sentencing policies that oppose reform efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1317: RELATING TO CONTENTS OF CITATIONS.

Clarifies that the omission of certain information or any error in a citation does not constitute ground for dismissal of a charge or for reversal of a conviction, if the omission or error did not prejudice the defendant.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClarifies citation errors won't dismiss charges, weakening defendant rights by reducing grounds for dismissal in misdemeanor cases.85% confidence

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