Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2356: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a certificate of rehabilitation to offenders who have satisfied all sentencing and post-release requirements. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with government and private stakeholders to conduct public education regarding the certificates. Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with state agencies to increase offenders' eligibility for security clearance in post-release employment with the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables employment for reentering offenders via certificates, directly reducing recidivism through rehabilitation support and stakeholder collaboration.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 1592: RELATING TO ASSAULT.

Elevates criminal penalties for assaults committed against educational workers and sports officials, while preserving appropriate judicial discretion at sentencing. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeElevates penalties for assaults on educational workers/sports officials, increasing sentencing severity without reform focus.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 595: RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes public recording right to enhance police accountability, directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 394: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly funding a public service through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly supporting criminal justice system's victim services component.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 610: RELATING TO COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS.

HB 610 creates a new Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of the Attorney General and appropriates funding for its operations. The unit will focus on reviewing unresolved criminal cases, directly affecting the Attorney General's Department by providing dedicated resources for these investigations. Key provisions include establishing the unit's structure and allocating state funds for its staffing and activities. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for a new Cold Case Unit, directly allocating budget resources to fund a government program.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new Cold Case Unit with state funding to resolve unresolved cases, directly strengthening criminal justice investigation capacity and resource allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 36: RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a medical examiner, coroner, or health care provider from stating on a certificate of death or in any report that the cause of death was excited delirium. Prohibits law enforcement officers from using the term excited delirium to describe an individual in an incident report. Establishes a new Hawaii Rule of Evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement and medical professionals from using 'excited delirium' in death reports, preventing potential misuse to avoid accountability in officer-involved deaths.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 729: RELATING TO MARRIAGE OF MINORS.

Raises the minimum age to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years of age. Repeals the authority of parents and the family court to consent to a minor's marriage. Repeals spousal cohabitation after the parties attain legal age as an exception for an annulment based on nonage. Repeals exemptions for sexual assault of a minor if the perpetrator is married to the minor. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals criminal exemption for marital sexual assault of minors, strengthening accountability in criminal justice by removing legal barriers to prosecution.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 307: RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes right to record police, enabling public accountability and civil rights protection in law enforcement interactions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 457: RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS.

Requires state and local law enforcement agencies to notify an individual of their rights when in law enforcement agency custody before any interview with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on certain matters regarding immigration violations. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement to notify rights before ICE interviews, strengthening due process and civil rights protections in custody per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires law enforcement to notify individuals of rights before ICE interviews, protecting due process during immigration enforcement interactions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 560: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to support services contracted with community-based organizations that deliver essential services, streamline judicial processes, and support the judiciary's capacity to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable households. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Judiciary for community services and judicial processes, advancing public funding for essential programs per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds community-based organizations supporting vulnerable households through judiciary services, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and systemic support.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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