Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 1517: RELATING TO SENTENCING REVIEW.

Establishes a procedure for incarcerated individuals who have served at least ten years of their sentence to petition the court for a sentence reduction. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to report to the Legislature Hawaii Paroling Authority, and Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables sentence reduction petitions after 10 years and mandates oversight reporting, promoting sentencing reform and accountability per Criminal Justice indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2917: RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Requires community health outpatient programs to prepare a certificate for assisted community treatment and provide the certificate to a defendant. Requires a petition for assisted community treatment to be heard within five days after the petition is filed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates expedited assisted community treatment for defendants, promoting mental health alternatives to incarceration and reducing recidivism through rehabilitation programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates timely hearings and certificates for assisted community treatment, improving access to mental health services without restricting funding or coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

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

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2448: RELATING TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

HB 2448 criminalizes female genital mutilation (FGM) performed on minors within the state, establishing it as a punishable offense. The bill directly affects minors who are victims of FGM and provides them with civil remedies, including legal options to seek compensation. Key provisions include defining FGM on minors as a criminal act and creating a pathway for victims to pursue civil claims against perpetrators. This legislation focuses on preventing harm to minors and offering legal recourse, without specifying enforcement details or penalties beyond the criminal and civil frameworks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCriminalizes FGM on minors with penalties and civil remedies, enhancing victim protection and legal accountability within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2258: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION.

Requires the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Clarifies the scope of treatment allowable under orders for assisted community treatment. Requires the Department of the Attorney general to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of any request for a court or administrative order authorizing treatment over the objection of certain patients.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates crisis intervention officer training standards to improve law enforcement responses to mental health crises, reducing unnecessary criminal justice involvement.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires crisis intervention training standards and clarifies assisted community treatment, directly strengthening mental health service access and patient rights under healthcare framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Mental Health

Track

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

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 3098: RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT ORDERS.

Amends section 831-3.2, HRS, to reflect that a person who is arrested for or charged with a crime but convicted of a violation is eligible for an expungement of their arrest record for that incident.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables expungement of arrest records for minor violations, reducing barriers to employment/housing and advancing criminal justice reform by addressing collateral consequences of minor offenses.90% confidence

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 1628: RELATING TO COMPASSIONATE RELEASE.

HB 1628 establishes a formal protocol for releasing incarcerated individuals who are terminally ill or have severe, debilitating medical conditions. It directly affects people currently imprisoned who meet specific health criteria, requiring correctional facilities to evaluate and refer eligible cases. The bill creates a defined process for medical assessments, review by prison officials, and court approval for release. This would change how prisons handle compassionate release by replacing ad-hoc decisions with a standardized, documented procedure. The bill is currently pending before the committee, with a hearing scheduled for February 4, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes standardized compassionate release protocol for terminally ill inmates, reforming correctional practices per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 861: RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT.

Authorizes the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to transmit all expungement orders to the Judiciary to effectuate the purposes of Act 159, SLH 2023.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFacilitates expungement of criminal records, aligning with reform efforts to reduce barriers for reentry and support rehabilitation per Act 159, SLH 2023.95% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2843: RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Extends for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021, relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses. Effective 6/29/2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes petty misdemeanor offense and deferred plea for domestic violence, promoting diversion over incarceration and clarifying penalties to improve case handling within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

Track