This bill requires Hawaii to add a special designation to the vehicle registration of deaf drivers to alert law enforcement officers during electronic checks. The system will display an international symbol for deafness or a specific code when an officer accesses the vehicle's information, helping to prevent dangerous misunderstandings during traffic stops. To qualify for this designation, a driver must provide certification from a licensed medical professional confirming their hearing loss meets specific decibel thresholds. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and restricts access to this information to authorized personnel only.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed Act 192 into law on July 7, 2026, which amends existing statutes related to domestic violence. The primary change requires the state judiciary to submit annual reports to the legislature by December 1 of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. These reports must detail case outcomes, defendant demographics, completion rates for intervention programs, and the time it takes to resolve cases. Additionally, the final report in 2030 will include an evaluation of a pilot project to determine if it improved case resolution speeds and reduced recidivism.
This bill prohibits companies that make smart home security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement unless specific conditions are met. Data sharing is only allowed if the user gives written consent, a judge issues a warrant, or an immediate emergency involving imminent death or serious bodily harm exists. The law also bans companies from forcing users to agree to data sharing as a requirement to use their devices. Violations of these rules can result in penalties and legal action by the state attorney general, but private individuals cannot sue under this specific section.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on July 7, 2026, establishes new penalties for interfering with access to health care facilities in Hawaii. It prohibits individuals from physically blocking entry or exit, making repeated calls intended to disrupt operations, or threatening harm to patients, staff, and property owners. While the law imposes criminal fines and jail time for violations, it explicitly preserves the right to peaceful expressive conduct, such as labor demonstrations and strikes. The legislation defines affected parties broadly to include patients, healthcare workers, and facility owners, allowing them to seek civil remedies against those who obstruct access.
This bill, signed into law as Act 196, establishes a new felony offense in Hawaii for the nonconsensual sharing of intimate or private images, directly affecting individuals who distribute such content and those who become victims of image-based sexual abuse. The law criminalizes intentionally disclosing or threatening to disclose photos or videos of someone in a state of nudity or engaging in sexual conduct, as well as images depicting self-harm, when done to coerce the victim into performing acts, providing more images, engaging in sexual activity, paying money, or influencing family court cases. It specifically classifies this behavior as a class B felony and includes aggravating circumstances where the offender is an adult targeting a minor or vulnerable adult, or when the disclosure causes bodily injury or death to the victim.
This bill, signed into law as Act 237, strengthens legal protections for public servants in Hawaii by creating a specific misdemeanor offense for harassment directed at them during their official duties. It directly affects government employees, law enforcement officers, and anyone subject to threats or harassment while performing their jobs. The key provision amends existing harassment laws to ensure that acts intended to disrupt public service are treated more seriously than general harassment, addressing concerns that current penalties were insufficient to deter such behavior. By elevating these specific threats to a misdemeanor, the law aims to provide clearer legal recourse and better safeguard the safety and effectiveness of public service.
This bill establishes a new legal framework in Hawaii allowing individuals to sue for civil damages if their private intimate images are shared without consent. It defines intimate images as photos or videos showing a person in a state of undress or engaged in sexual conduct and protects these images even if they were taken in public places, provided the person did not agree to the exposure. The law creates specific exceptions where sharing is allowed, such as for law enforcement, medical treatment, reporting illegal activity, or matters of public interest. Additionally, parents and guardians are generally shielded from liability for sharing images of their children unless the sharing was explicitly prohibited by other laws.
This document is a formal notification from the Governor to the Hawaii Legislature stating that Act 225 was signed into law on July 10, 2026. The actual law, SB2494, modifies the state's bribery statutes by extending the statute of limitations for prosecution from three years to nine years. This change is intended to ensure that individuals can still be prosecuted for bribery even if a federal investigation delays the case, preventing the state from losing the ability to bring charges due to time limits. The bill also defines bribery as a class B felony and removes the option for deferred guilty pleas for those convicted of this offense.
This bill establishes uniform statewide requirements for how state and county agencies issue U and T visa certifications to noncitizen victims of crime and human trafficking. It mandates that all authorized certifying entities, such as law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges, adopt consistent policies and processes for verifying victim assistance. By creating these standardized procedures, the legislation aims to ensure that victims across the state have equal access to federal immigration relief programs. The law defines key roles, including certifying officials, and clarifies the specific forms and criteria needed for these certifications. Ultimately, the bill seeks to eliminate inconsistent practices that may have previously hindered victims from obtaining necessary legal protections.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed Act 153 into law on June 25, 2026. The act modifies how family courts decide whether to transfer minors aged 14 or older to adult criminal court by updating the specific factors judges must consider during the process. It also mandates that family courts retain jurisdiction over a minor if clear evidence shows the child was trafficked, sexually abused, or raped by the alleged victim before or during the crime. Additionally, the law ensures that family courts keep authority over these minors for any future offenses that would normally fall under their jurisdiction.
