SB 3071 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS.

Summary

Clarifies and updates the sex trafficking and promoting prostitution criminal offense statutes by refining the definition of "profits from prostitution," establishing an affirmative defense to these offenses for certain lawful transactions, and making technical and other housekeeping amendments. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 26, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB3071 → SB3071_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legislative metadata and formatting to reflect the first Senate District committee reading (SD1). It includes minor technical edits to legal definitions and penalties, such as clarifying language around fines and adding a specific finding regarding a recent state supreme court decision on sex trafficking.

Scope change

The bill's substantive scope remains focused on offenses against public health and morals, specifically sex trafficking and prostitution, with no major changes to the laws' applicability.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata, including the title, sponsor names, and effective dates, to reflect the progression from the original introduction to the first Senate District committee reading.

DEFINITION

Added a specific legislative finding referencing a 2023 Hawaii Supreme Court decision to justify clarifying sex trafficking statutes.

REQUIREMENT

Refined penalty language for prostitution offenses by changing 'no less than' to '[no] not less than' to ensure precise statutory wording regarding fines.

Corrected a grammatical error in the definition of 'sexual offense' by removing an erroneous bracketed citation.

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 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 354) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, San Buenaventura. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 24, 2026

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, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-24-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors