SB 2055 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

Summary

Requires the Civil Rights Commission to establish a twenty-four-hour intake helpline to assist individuals who experience or witness civil rights violations in the State. Requires the Civil Rights Commission to compile an annual report and hold an annual public hearing on data obtained through the helpline. Requires the Civil Rights Commission to compile and submit to the Legislature, and post on its website, a monthly preliminary report on data obtained through the helpline. Appropriates funds to establish an unspecified number of Civil Rights Investigator, Data Analyst, and Program Manager positions within the Civil Rights Commission. Appropriates funds for the Civil Rights Commission to contract with Aloha United Way to implement the twenty-four-hour intake helpline and for website and data development costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2055_HD1 → SB2055_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the Civil Rights Commission's helpline from addressing general civil rights violations to specifically targeting harms caused by federal troop deployments, federal law enforcement, and immigration enforcement. This change clarifies the scope of complaints the helpline will handle and aligns the reporting requirements with these specific federal operations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from general civil rights violations to specifically include harms caused by federal troop deployments, federal law enforcement, and immigration enforcement operations.

SCOPE

Added specific eligibility criteria for the helpline to accept reports regarding harms from federal troop deployments, federal law enforcement, and immigration enforcement.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the helpline's purpose and reporting requirements to focus on misconduct or harm caused by federal law enforcement officers and military personnel.

DEFINITION

Introduced new definitions for 'Harm' and 'Federal troop deployment' to clarify what incidents the helpline addresses.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000 to March 22, 2075.

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 25, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1410-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 36) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 21; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2157) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

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, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura.

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-26 10:00AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

5 primary · 2 co-sponsors