SB 778 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

SB 778 prohibits sentencing individuals aged 18-25 to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for any offense. This bill directly affects young adult defendants in the criminal justice system who would otherwise face life without parole sentences. Instead of allowing life without parole, the law requires that such defendants receive a life sentence with the possibility of parole after a set period. The measure applies to all cases involving defendants in this age group, changing sentencing options for this specific demographic.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB778 → SB778_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a clean legislative draft to a structured document with metadata headers, while the core policy content remains substantially unchanged. The main substantive change is the addition of a new definition for 'emerging adult defendant' (ages 18-20) and a prohibition against sentencing them to life without parole, replacing the previous age threshold of 18 with 21 for eligibility for such sentences.

Scope change

The bill's scope now explicitly defines 'emerging adult defendants' as persons aged 18 to under 21 at the time of the offense, expanding the protected age group compared to the original text which only mentioned changing the threshold from 18 to 21.

DEFINITION

Added formal definition of 'emerging adult defendant' as someone convicted of a crime who was over 18 but under 21 at the time of the offense.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit prohibition against sentencing emerging adult defendants to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Changed the age threshold for life without parole eligibility from 18 years old to 21 years old.

TECHNICAL

Converted document from plain legislative text format to structured format with metadata headers including bill number, version information, and summary descriptions.

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

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 196) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Elefante, Richards. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Chang). Transmitted to House.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors