HB 277 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO VEHICULAR PURSUIT.

Summary

Establishes requirements related to vehicular pursuit by law enforcement agencies. Beginning 1/1/2027, requires law enforcement agencies to provide reports to the Department of the Attorney General on all vehicular pursuits. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed Jun 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB277_SD1 → HB277_SD2 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill updates Hawaii's vehicular pursuit policies to enhance public safety by establishing stricter requirements for when law enforcement can engage in pursuits, how they must be conducted, and how data must be reported. Key changes include adding a sunset date for pursuit activities, requiring more detailed reporting to the Attorney General, and mandating regular training for officers. The bill also clarifies definitions and adds protections for privacy by prohibiting the release of personal information about pursued individuals.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of requirements to include detailed reporting, public transparency, and training mandates that were not explicitly detailed in the previous version. It also adds a future effective date for certain provisions.

TIMELINE

Added a sunset date of July 1, 3000 for the Act's effectiveness, which appears to be a placeholder or error that should be reviewed.

REQUIREMENT

Requires law enforcement agencies to annually report detailed pursuit data to the Attorney General, including reasons for pursuit, outcomes, injuries, and whether citations or arrests were made.

Mandates that law enforcement agencies make their pursuit policies publicly available within 30 days of adoption and include the date of last update.

Requires annual training for officers on pursuit policies and in-service training every two years.

Changed the effective date for certain provisions from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 3000, which may be a clerical error.

Requires law enforcement agencies to develop a plan to end pursuits using approved intervention techniques as soon as practicable.

Mandates that pursuing officers activate emergency lights, sirens, and recording devices immediately upon initiating a pursuit.

Prohibits law enforcement agencies from releasing personal identifying information about pursued individuals.

ENFORCEMENT

Allows the Attorney General to investigate and bring civil actions against law enforcement agencies that fail to comply with the new pursuit policies.

DEFINITION

Adds specific definitions for terms like 'vehicle contact action' and 'vehicle paralleling' to clarify tactical options.

HB277_HD2 → HB277_SD1 · 11 edits

MAJOR

This bill significantly simplifies and modernizes Hawaii's vehicular pursuit laws by replacing a complex list of specific criminal offenses with a single broad standard of 'committing a crime.' It introduces new requirements for real-time communication, pursuit termination planning, and comprehensive annual reporting. The bill also establishes a clear timeline for agencies to adopt new policies and mandates regular training, while adding protections for the privacy of pursued individuals.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of pursuit authorization from a narrow list of specific felony offenses to any crime, while adding new procedural requirements for all pursuits.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the criteria for initiating a pursuit from a specific list of 10 criminal offenses to a single standard requiring reasonable suspicion that a person is attempting to commit, has committed, or is committing a crime.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for pursuing officers to notify other agencies immediately, use common communication channels, and develop a plan to end the pursuit as soon as possible.

Added a new requirement that officers must activate emergency lights, sirens, and recording devices immediately upon starting a pursuit and cease them immediately upon termination.

Added a new requirement for annual reporting of all pursuits to the attorney general, including details like dates, locations, injuries, and whether citations or arrests were made.

Added a requirement for law enforcement agencies to make their pursuit policies publicly available by July 1, 2026, and to include the date of last update.

Added a requirement for mandatory in-service training on vehicular pursuits every two years for all officers and supervisors.

Added a prohibition on reporting personal identifying information of pursued individuals to the public or the attorney general.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'vehicle contact action' and 'vehicle paralleling' to clarify specific tactical maneuvers.

Added a definition clarifying that briefly following a vehicle to obtain basic information does not constitute a pursuit if traffic laws are substantially obeyed.

TIMELINE

Added a timeline requiring the attorney general to adopt reporting rules by January 1, 2026, and law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies by April 1, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new provision allowing the attorney general to investigate and bring civil actions against law enforcement agencies that fail to comply with the new pursuit requirements.

HB277_CD1 → HB277_HD1 · 12 edits

MAJOR

This bill updates Hawaii's vehicular pursuit policies to modernize standards for law enforcement, requiring stricter criteria for initiating pursuits, enhanced reporting requirements, and new training mandates. The changes aim to improve public safety by reducing dangerous pursuit incidents while maintaining officer safety through better coordination and accountability measures.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required reporting and adds new training requirements for law enforcement officers and supervisors, while clarifying definitions of pursuit-related terms.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that pursuits must be limited to specific felony offenses, instead allowing pursuits when officers have reasonable suspicion of various crimes including DUI and family abuse offenses.

Added new requirement that pursuits must be necessary to identify or apprehend the person, and that the person must pose a serious risk of harm to others.

Added requirement that pursuing officers must notify supervising officers immediately when initiating a pursuit, with supervisors overseeing the pursuit.

Added requirement for pursuing officers to develop a plan to end the pursuit using approved intervention tactics as soon as practicable.

Added requirement that all emergency warning lights, sirens, headlights, motor vehicle recorders, and body-worn cameras must be activated upon pursuit initiation.

Added new reporting requirements mandating detailed annual reports on all vehicular pursuits including crash data, injuries, and whether citations or arrests were made.

Added requirement that the Department of Law Enforcement must make pursuit data publicly available on their website in a machine-readable format.

Added requirement that law enforcement agencies adopt written pursuit policies by April 1, 2026, and make them publicly available by July 1, 2026.

Added requirement that the board develop minimum training requirements for vehicular pursuits, with officers required to complete in-service training every two years.

Added requirement that policy violations result in discipline up to and including termination.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'law enforcement vehicle,' 'vehicle,' 'vehicle contact action,' 'vehicle paralleling,' and 'vehicular pursuit' to clarify what constitutes a pursuit.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from January 1, 2027, to July 1, 3000 (likely a placeholder or error in the draft).

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda voting no (6) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) McKelvey. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 61).

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 61) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Tarnas, Grandinetti, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 10:35AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 611) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Elefante, McKelvey. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-28-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1307) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fukunaga ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-10-25 3:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA/PSM, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 204).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (6) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kahaloa.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 379) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors