Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

SB 2568: RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Elevates the offense of harassment to a misdemeanor when committed against a public servant because of or during their performance of official duties. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeElevates harassment against public servants to misdemeanor, strengthening legal protections for law enforcement and court personnel, supporting criminal justice system functionality.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2575: RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Changes from a misdemeanor to a class C felony the penalty for possessing, controlling, or transferring ownership of any firearm or ammunition by a person who is restrained by court order from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class B felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes unlawful possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class B felony. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentences for firearm possession during felony prosecutions, expanding criminalization and reducing judicial discretion per bill's penalty enhancements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 2517: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Amends the penalty for the unlawful possession, control, or transfer of a firearm or ammunition in violation of a valid judicial protective order or restraining order by reclassifying the offense from a misdemeanor to a class C felony. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes class C felony penalty for firearm violations under protective orders, expanding criminalization of firearm possession in domestic violence contexts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 3142: RELATING TO DANGEROUS INTOXICATION.

Establishes the offenses of dangerous intoxication and habitual dangerous intoxication. Provides for civil protective custody and transport for emergency examination in lieu of arrest for dangerous intoxication in specified circumstances, and bars prosecution when civil protective custody is used. Requires probation with mandatory treatment for habitual dangerous intoxication, with incarceration only upon probation violation. Makes conforming amendments to chapter 334, HRS, relating to admission to psychiatric facilities and assisted community treatment. Delays implementation by one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces arrest with civil protective custody and mandates treatment over incarceration for habitual cases, promoting rehabilitation and reducing criminalization.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 127: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A STATE HIGHWAY POLICE FORCE.

This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to work together to create a state highway police force. It aims to address rising traffic fatalities by supplementing county police efforts with a specialized state-level enforcement unit focused on highway safety. The resolution highlights the potential benefits of combining transportation infrastructure expertise with law enforcement authority to improve traffic management and response to incidents. It does not authorize funding or mandate the creation of the force, but rather serves as a formal recommendation to the relevant state agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill seeks to establish a state highway police force to improve traffic safety and supplement county police efforts, which aligns with strengthening law enforcement capabilities.65% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes state highway police force to enhance transportation safety and reduce traffic fatalities through specialized enforcement.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 185: URGING ALL COUNTY PLANNING AND PERMITTING AGENCIES TO DENY ALL PERMIT APPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION, OR USE OF WAREHOUSES BY UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETAINING INDIVIDUALS FACING DEPORTATION.

This bill urges county planning and permitting agencies in Hawaii to deny all permit applications for the construction, expansion, or use of warehouses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for detaining individuals facing deportation. The resolution directs these agencies to refuse permits specifically for facilities intended to house large numbers of people in warehouse settings, citing concerns about mass incarceration and local resource strain. It is a non-binding recommendation that applies to county-level planning departments across Hawaii's major islands. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but instead asks local officials to exercise their permitting authority to block such facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts ICE detention facilities, limiting federal criminal justice enforcement capabilities and opposing mass incarceration practices.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts ICE detention facilities by denying permits, limiting federal immigration enforcement capacity at state level95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 119: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A STATE HIGHWAY POLICE FORCE.

This bill is a House resolution requesting the Hawaii Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to work together to create a state highway police force. It aims to address rising traffic fatalities by supplementing county police efforts with a specialized unit trained to handle highway incidents and enforce traffic laws more effectively. The resolution does not authorize funding or mandate the creation of the force but instead asks the two departments to collaborate on establishing it.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill proposes creating a specialized highway police force to address traffic fatalities and improve law enforcement effectiveness, which aligns with strengthening criminal justice infrastructure.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill aims to enhance transportation safety by establishing a specialized highway police force to address rising traffic fatalities and improve traffic law enforcement.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 175: URGING ALL COUNTY PLANNING AND PERMITTING AGENCIES TO DENY ALL PERMIT APPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION, OR USE OF WAREHOUSES BY UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETAINING INDIVIDUALS FACING DEPORTATION.

This bill urges Hawaii's county planning and permitting agencies to deny all applications for building, expanding, or using warehouses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for detaining individuals facing deportation. It is based on concerns about the potential for mass incarceration in large facilities, the strain on local resources, and the separation of individuals from their families and legal counsel. The resolution directs copies to planning officials in Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai counties to encourage them to reject such permit requests. It reflects Hawaii's stated values of dignity and respect for all individuals, regardless of immigration status.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts ICE detention warehouses, limiting federal criminal justice enforcement capabilities and opposing expanded detention infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill restricts ICE detention warehouses, limiting federal immigration enforcement capacity and protecting immigrant rights by opposing mass incarceration and family separation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 2392: RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Specifies that operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver is a misdemeanor for a first offense, or any offense not preceded within a ten-year period. Specifies and imposes additional sentencing and probation requirements for a person convicted of a misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant offense. Upgrades the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver to a class C felony under certain conditions. Specifies and imposes additional sentencing and probation requirements for a class C felony offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver. Prohibits a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for persons convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates DUI to class C felony, increasing penalties for intoxicated driving, aligning with stricter sentencing (oppose indicator)95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens traffic safety by increasing penalties for DUI, directly enhancing vehicle regulation and road safety standards within transportation policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2250: RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Amends the offense of promoting a controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, or public housing projects or complexes to include homeless facilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by adding homeless facilities to prohibited zones for promoting controlled substances, increasing drug offense penalties in vulnerable areas.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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