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

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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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

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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

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2075: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Establishes a class C felony penalty for the unlawful possession, control, or transfer of a firearm or ammunition in violation of a valid judicial protective order or restraining order.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by establishing class C felony for firearm violations under protective orders.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2844: RELATING TO IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE.

Establishes the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate or private images as a criminal offense. Amends the criteria for an extended term of imprisonment to include an offender whose act of attempting to commit or committing the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate or private images against a minor or vulnerable adult resulted in the victim's death.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by establishing new offense and increasing penalties for nonconsensual image disclosure, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.95% confidence

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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

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2288: RELATING TO PAROLE ELIGIBILITY.

HB 2288 expands parole eligibility for incarcerated individuals by allowing them to qualify for parole through participation in a broader range of rehabilitation programs. The bill directly affects committed persons (those serving prison sentences) by adding new program types to the existing criteria for parole consideration. Key provisions require correctional facilities to recognize these additional programs as meeting the eligibility requirements for parole hearings. This change aims to provide more pathways for inmates to demonstrate rehabilitation progress before parole consideration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends parole eligibility to include rehabilitation programs (treatment, vocational), promoting reintegration and reducing recidivism per bill's focus on correctional program participation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates inclusion of mental health/substance abuse treatment programs in parole eligibility, directly supporting access to healthcare services for incarcerated individuals through rehabilitation requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1626: RELATING TO YOUTH PENALTIES.

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Encourages the use of community service and other programs that employ aina-based principles. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits fees/fines on minors/families for juvenile offenses, discharges debt, and promotes restorative community service - aligning with juvenile justice reform to reduce barriers and improve outcomes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2254: RELATING TO ABUSE OF FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.

Maintains the petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household member by repealing the sunset of amendments made to sections 709-906 and 853-4, HRS, by Act 19, SLH 2020. Repeals provisions authorizing a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRepeals deferred plea option for abuse offenses, increasing conviction rates and reducing defendant alternatives, opposing reform efforts to limit criminalization.85% confidence

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