Issue · Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

Every criminal justice bill, vote, and legislator stance in Hawaii, automatically classified by Maddy, our AI policy reader.

Total bills
46
2026 Regular Session
Top supporter
Dru Kanuha
100% support rate
Top opponent
Kurt Fevella
6% support rate
Ranked legislators
10
5 support · 5 oppose
Key legislators

Who's moving criminal justice in Hawaii

Legislators moving criminal justice in Hawaii
Legislator Party Stance Support rate Decisive votes
Dru Kanuha
Dru Kanuha Senate · District 3
D
Strong +
100% 14
Les Ihara
Les Ihara Senate · District 10
D
Strong +
100% 14
Ron Kouchi
Ron Kouchi Senate · District 8
D
Strong +
100% 14
Joy San Buenaventura
Joy San Buenaventura Senate · District 2
D
Strong +
94% 35
Jarrett Keohokalole
Jarrett Keohokalole Senate · District 24
D
Strong +
93% 15
Kurt Fevella
Kurt Fevella Senate · District 20
R
Strong −
6% 17
Diamond Garcia
Diamond Garcia House · District 42
R
Strong −
10% 72
Brenton Awa
Brenton Awa Senate · District 23
R
Strong −
11% 37
Samantha DeCorte
Samantha DeCorte Senate · District 22
R
Strong −
12% 26
David Alcos
David Alcos House · District 41
R
Strong −
12% 40
Showing 31–40 of 46 bills

All criminal justice bills

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.
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.
passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 125: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES AND GENERATING A PLAN TO EXPAND SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL.

This House Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of the Attorney General and Department of Law Enforcement to improve their capacity to combat human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The bill requests the creation of a plan to expand specialized investigative personnel and strengthen statewide enforcement initiatives, including expanding the Operation Shine the Light program to all county police departments. It also calls for the establishment of specialized runaway youth recovery teams in each county to quickly locate missing youth who may be at risk of exploitation. Finally, the resolution asks state agencies to submit a report with staffing, training, and funding recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.
passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 133: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES AND GENERATING A PLAN TO EXPAND SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of the Attorney General and Department of Law Enforcement to improve their ability to combat human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The bill requests the creation of a plan to expand specialized investigative personnel and strengthen statewide enforcement initiatives, including expanding the Operation Shine the Light program to all county police departments. It also calls for the establishment of specialized runaway youth recovery teams in each county to quickly locate missing youth who may be at risk of trafficking. Finally, the resolution asks these agencies to submit a report with staffing needs, training requirements, and funding recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.
passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 2325: RELATING TO JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Authorizes a court to modify sentences imposed on juvenile offenders if certain conditions are met and the court finds that, after considering certain factors, the defendant is not a danger to the safety of any person or the community and the modification is in the interests of justice. Establishes procedures, provides for hearings and representation by counsel, and authorizes appellate review. (HD1)
passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 2948: RELATING TO INSURANCE FRAUD.

Prohibits certain solicitation and inducement practices relating to insurance claims. Establishes disaster-related insurance fraud offenses. Broadens the scope of the offense of insurance fraud and the acts that constitute insurance fraud. Clarifies the penalties for the offense of insurance fraud and the capabilities and operations of the Insurance Fraud Investigations Branch, including the annual report to the Legislature and the use of fraud analytics. Reiterates protections for insurance fraud whistleblowers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2153: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HB 2153 establishes the Kūpaʻa Law Enforcement Retention Bonus Program, which provides financial incentives to help retain law enforcement officers. The bill allocates state funds specifically for these retention bonuses, directly affecting eligible law enforcement officers in Hawaii. The key mechanism is the state appropriating dedicated funding to cover the bonus payments. This policy change creates a formal, funded program to support officer retention efforts.
passed · Hawaii · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 2493: RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.

Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of an individual's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Comptroller to issue a warrant for payment of advance compensation to a petitioner. Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to contract with a community-based agency to assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for individuals whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2044: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender reentry program under the department of corrections and rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 2287: RELATING TO PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING.

Includes correctional workers as protected participants in peer support counseling sessions, giving them the same confidentiality protections provided to law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel.
Showing 31 to 40 of 46 bills
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