SB 2145 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Summary

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Apr 20, 2026

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What changed between versions

SB2145 → SB2145_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill update primarily involves technical formatting corrections, such as fixing a typo in the effective date (changing 'July 1, 3000' from the previous version) and adjusting the bill's title and header information. It also includes minor wording refinements to clarify that the right to record applies to individuals 'in the custody' of officers, rather than just 'custody'.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains unchanged; it continues to establish the right to record law enforcement activities and provides a private right of action for violations.

TIMELINE

Corrected the effective date of the Act to July 1, 3000, ensuring the date is consistent with the bill's long-term future enactment.

DEFINITION

Refined the definition of 'Record' to list 'moving images, still images, or audio' in a more logical order and removed redundant phrasing regarding written notes.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified the right to record by changing 'custody of a law enforcement officer' to 'in the custody of a law enforcement officer' to improve grammatical precision.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated the private right of action section to include 'other relief' alongside damages, broadening the potential remedies available to plaintiffs.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted the statute of limitations language to be more concise by removing the phrase 'on which' while retaining the three-year limit.

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 7, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 474).

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia, Kila voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Olds, Quinlan excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

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, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 179).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2668) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Inouye, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM, JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors