HB 127 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

HB 127 requires courts to set bail amounts based on factors like a defendant's income and financial situation, ensuring the amount is affordable. This bill directly affects individuals arrested and awaiting trial, as their pretrial release conditions would be adjusted to match their ability to pay. The key provision mandates that bail be set at a reasonable level rather than a fixed amount that may be unaffordable. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB127_HD1 → HB127_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill version was updated from the House Draft (HD1) to the Senate Draft (SD1), reflecting changes made during the legislative review process. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new provision allowing courts to review or set bail at any time after the initial prompt hearing, rather than strictly limiting such actions to the first hearing. Minor textual adjustments were also made to clarify that the bill applies to the 'State' generally rather than just 'Hawaii' in specific contexts.

Scope change

The bill's scope was slightly expanded by adding a mechanism for ongoing bail reviews after the initial hearing, moving from a single-event process to a potentially recurring one.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection allowing courts to consider bail at any time following the initial prompt hearing upon motion by the defendant or the court.

Changed the text from 'Hawaii' to 'the State' in the legislative findings to broaden the geographic reference.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata including the version number (from HD1 to SD1), revision numbers, and associated dates.

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 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 325.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-24-25 2:00PM in conference room 325.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 404) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 19; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Elefante, McKelvey, Moriwaki . Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 3 (Senator(s) DeCoite, Lee, C., Richards). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 13, 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 ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 190).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kila, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Kapela, Pierick, Ward excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 7, 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, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

9 primary · 0 co-sponsors