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SB 2251 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Summary
Requires the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to submit a report to the Legislature. Appropriates grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. (SD1)
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds for essential Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly advancing public service funding under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly supporting victims' participation in criminal justice process per VOCA guidelines and victim services indicators.90% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2251 → SB2251_SD1 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated from a House version to a Senate version, which significantly restructured the legislative text. The most important change is the addition of a new requirement for the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney to submit a detailed annual report to the legislature on how the funds are used, including data on staffing, caseloads, and service barriers. The original single appropriation section was split into two: one for the funding and one for the new reporting mandate.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a mandatory reporting requirement for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, shifting from a simple appropriation to a funding mechanism with accountability measures.
REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney to submit a detailed annual report to the legislature regarding the implementation and allocation of Victim Witness Assistance Program funds.

The new report must include specific data points such as the number of victims served, types of services provided, staffing levels, and barriers to service delivery.

STRUCTURE

The original single section combining funding and purpose was split into two separate sections: Section 2 now covers the reporting requirement, and Section 3 covers the $500,000 appropriation.

TECHNICAL

Updated metadata including the bill title, sponsor name (Noah Holck), bill type (SD), and revision numbers to reflect the Senate version.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2285) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
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 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to JDC, WAM.
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and passed First Reading.
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Introduced
Pending Introduction.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ron Kouchi
Ron Kouchi
DDemocratic
HI
8