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HCR 55 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY HOW EFFECTIVE EXISTING LAWS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS, PROTECTIVE ORDERS, AND HARASSMENT BY STALKING ARE IN PREVENTING CONTINUED ABUSE AND HARASSMENT.

HCR 55 is a non-binding resolution requesting Hawaii's Judiciary to form a working group to study how effectively current laws protect victims through domestic violence temporary restraining orders (TROs), protective orders (POs), and stalking harassment laws. The working group, including county police departments, prosecutors, victim advocacy groups, and survivors from each county, will analyze enforcement, compliance, and victim outcomes. It must submit findings and potential legislative recommendations to the Legislature by January 2027. This resolution does not change existing laws but aims to inform future policy improvements for victims of domestic violence and stalking.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill studies effectiveness of domestic violence protections (TROs, POs) to improve victim safety and system outcomes, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Governor
Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HCR55_HD1 → HCR55_SD1 · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reformatted from House Concurrent Resolution HD1 to Senate Draft SD1, with significant changes to the working group composition. The original version specified individual police departments and prosecutors, while the new version designates specific leadership roles (Chief of Police, Public Defender, President of Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers) and adds flexibility for additional representatives. The substantive policy content regarding the study's purpose and timeline remains largely unchanged.
Scope change
The scope of the working group membership was expanded and modified to include specific leadership roles rather than just department representatives, and added flexibility for additional participants deemed necessary by the Judiciary.
REQUIREMENT

Working group membership changed from department-level representatives to specific leadership roles (Chief of Police instead of Police Department, Public Defender instead of Prosecuting Attorney for State's interest, President of Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers added)

Added flexibility clause allowing Judiciary to include any other representative with relevant knowledge or experience

Working group membership increased from 12 to 15 members with more flexible composition

TECHNICAL

Document format changed from House Concurrent Resolution HD1 to Senate Draft SD1 with updated metadata and formatting

Transmission list updated to include new working group members (Public Defender, Prosecuting Attorneys, Chiefs of Police, President of Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
9
Committee
7
Amendments
2
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Resolution adopted in final form.
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lamosao excused (2).
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Introduced
House agrees to Senate amendment(s).
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Introduced
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 835) in amended form (SD 1).
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1941) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).
upper
Apr 15, 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 ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard, Awa.
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 04-15-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to JDC.
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 511).
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Adopted as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2).
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1849) as amended in HD 1, recommending adoption.
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 22
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
Offered
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Rachele Lamosao
Rachele Lamosao
DDemocratic
HI
19