SB 2540 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO YOUTH PENALTIES.

Summary

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Encourages the use of community service and other programs that employ aina-based principles. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. Effective 7/1/2027. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2540 → SB2540_SD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill update primarily involves technical formatting changes, such as updating the bill version number and dates, and adjusting line breaks in the text. The substantive policy content regarding youth penalties, including the impact on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander minors and driving restrictions, remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect the SD1 version with new dates and revision numbers.

Adjusted line breaks and paragraph spacing in the text without altering the legal meaning.

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

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2353) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors