SB 260 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

SB 260 appropriates funding for the state Judiciary for the fiscal biennium starting July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. This bill directly affects the Judiciary branch by providing the necessary financial resources to operate court systems, staff, and related services during that period. The funding covers essential judicial functions but does not establish new policies or alter existing laws. It becomes effective on July 1, 2025, as specified in the official abstract.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB260 → SB260_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a traditional legislative document to a structured data template, with significant substantive changes to funding allocations and new program provisions. Operating budgets for judicial circuits were adjusted, particularly for the Administration program which increased from $41,193,756 to $42,193,756. Two new sections were added: one directing $1 million annually to civil legal services and another requiring a report on expunging single defendants/offenses in multi-defendant or multi-offense cases.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new specific directives for civil legal services funding and a mandated study on expungement procedures, while the overall judicial appropriations framework remained similar but with updated budget figures.

FISCAL

Administration operating budget increased by $1,000,000 from $41,193,756 to $42,193,756 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Capital improvement project funding increased from $11,900,000 to $11,900,000 (same total but different breakdown) for new judiciary complex in South Kohala and statewide facility upgrades.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement to allocate $1,000,000 annually from general funds to increase civil legal services funding.

New mandate requiring judiciary to submit a report on expunging single defendants or offenses in multi-defendant/multi-offense cases, with findings due 40 days before the 2026 regular session.

TECHNICAL

Document format changed from traditional legislative text to structured data template with metadata fields.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 427) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors