Criminal Justice

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3071: RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS.

Clarifies and updates the sex trafficking and promoting prostitution criminal offense statutes by refining the definition of "profits from prostitution," establishing an affirmative defense to these offenses for certain lawful transactions, and making technical and other housekeeping amendments. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAffirmative defense for lawful transactions prevents over-criminalization, aligning with reform by protecting civil rights in sex trafficking/prostitution statutes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2457: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Amends forfeiture laws to require the owner of property seized in relation to a crime to be convicted of the covered offense before the property may be forfeited.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires criminal conviction before property forfeiture, strengthening due process and protecting civil rights in criminal justice proceedings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 2871: RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Prohibits discrimination based on the perception that a person possesses certain characteristics, the perception that a person is associated with a person who possesses, or is perceived to possess, certain characteristics, or the intersection or combination of two or more specified characteristics in relation to a person. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAnti-discrimination provisions prevent bias in systems affecting marginalized groups, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like fair treatment and reducing discriminatory practices.70% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits workplace discrimination based on perception, association, or intersectionality of characteristics, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 2251: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to submit a report to the Legislature. Appropriates grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds for essential Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly advancing public service funding under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly supporting victims' participation in criminal justice process per VOCA guidelines and victim services indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 2841: RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

By July 1, 2027, requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector. Requires transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers and keep records of the training. By January 1, 2028, requires transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to post signage regarding human trafficking awareness. By October 1, 2027, requires transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires human trafficking prevention training and reporting protocols, enhancing victim protection and law enforcement response within criminal justice framework.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates human trafficking awareness training for transient accommodations workers, directly enhancing workplace safety and protecting against exploitation in the labor sector.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 2732: RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

SB 2732 requires courts to consider a defendant's actual financial situation - not just a fixed bail amount - when determining pretrial release. It directly affects individuals detained before trial who cannot afford cash bail. The bill mandates judges to evaluate specific factors related to a defendant's ability to pay, such as income and assets. This aims to reduce pretrial detention based solely on wealth, rather than financial capacity.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReforms pretrial system to reduce wealth-based detention, aligning with justice reform goals like reducing inequitable detention and protecting civil rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1321: RELATING TO THE HAWAII CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.

Beginning July 1, 2025, extends the term of the Oversight Coordinator for the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission. Clarifies that the Oversight Coordinator has the general authority to inspect agencies and correctional facilities without notice. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies oversight authority to inspect facilities without notice, strengthening commission's monitoring role in corrections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 722: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a felony offense where the property owner has been convicted of an underlying felony offense. Directs forfeiture proceeds to the general fund. Amends the allowable expenses for moneys in the Criminal Forfeiture Fund. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Amends the deadline for the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the use of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Limits the transfer of certain forfeiture property to federal agencies. Establishes records requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts civil forfeiture to felony convictions with prior conviction, reducing overreach and protecting property rights per criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 169: RELATING TO REDRESS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide written notice to certain persons regarding the ability to file a claim for redress under applicable wrongful conviction law. Requires the liberal construction of that law. Changes the standard for a claim for compensation for wrongful imprisonment from actual innocence to grounds consistent with innocence. Provides for advance compensation for petitioners under certain circumstances. Requires the State to prove, for claims for compensation for wrongful imprisonment, that the reversal or vacating of the petitioner's conviction or pardoning of the petitioner was inconsistent with innocence. Requires reports to Legislature from the Department of the Attorney General. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeChanges wrongful conviction standard to 'grounds consistent with innocence' and mandates advance compensation, promoting accountability and redress in criminal justice.95% 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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