Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 2185: RELATING TO SPORTS OFFICIALS.

Authorizes the Department of Education to retain private counsel to represent a sports official in certain civil proceedings to obtain a temporary restraining order in response to incidences where the sports official has been assaulted or threatened in the course of legally discharging their sports official duties. Includes substantial bodily injury of a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of the sports official's duties in the offense of assault in the first degree. Clarifies that a sports official includes a school administrator, league administrator, or athletics director. Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill elevates assault on sports officials to a class B felony, strengthening criminal penalties for violence against protected personnel within the justice system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 676: RELATING TO YOUTH AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the State's youth and adult correctional facilities to provide free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated persons in state correctional facilities. Prohibits any state agency from deriving revenue or financial benefit from the provision of communication services to persons confined in state correctional facilities. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish service quality standards and rules for the free voice communication services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates free communication services for inmates, prohibits profit from such services, and sets quality standards - supports rehabilitation and reduces recidivism risk in correctional facilities.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2369: RELATING TO PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTS BY THE JUDICIARY.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to increase contract prices for community-based organizations under Judiciary services, directly funding public programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds community-based organizations supporting Judiciary's mandate, including access to justice (a criminal justice reform indicator), with inflation protections to strengthen service delivery in courts/criminal justice system.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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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

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 387: RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

HB 387 amends a specific criminal offense to explicitly include cases where drivers cause serious bodily injuries while driving under the influence. This change directly affects intoxicated drivers who cause accidents resulting in injury. The bill updates the legal definition of "negligent injury in the first degree" to cover injuries negligently inflicted by drivers who are intoxicated. This makes it a clearer criminal violation for causing harm while driving impaired. The amendment provides a more direct legal pathway for prosecuting such incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends criminal offense definition to explicitly include intoxicated drivers causing injury, strengthening enforcement against DUI-related harm.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAmends criminal offense to strengthen DUI-related injury penalties, enhancing highway safety standards as directly stated in bill title and summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1387: RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

HB 1387 lowers the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving under the influence of any intoxicant (including alcohol or drugs). It directly affects drivers operating vehicles by making it illegal to drive with a BAC above the new, lower threshold. The bill establishes a specific BAC limit (not specified in the abstract) that will replace the current standard, effective July 1, 3000. This is a concrete policy change to strengthen DUI enforcement, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens DUI enforcement by lowering BAC threshold, directly advancing law enforcement policies within criminal justice as described in bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationLowers BAC limit to strengthen DUI enforcement, directly enhancing road safety standards under transportation policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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