Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2504: RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

Appropriates funds to the Judiciary for the enforcement of gun violence protective orders. Appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement to conduct public awareness campaigns on gun violence protective orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds enforcement of gun violence protective orders, a criminal justice tool to prevent firearm-related crimes, aligning with reform goals of reducing violence.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 538: RELATING TO SAFE ENTRYWAYS.

Prohibit individuals from residing in a doorway or surrounding area of certain places. Gives county police departments primary authority to enforce the prohibition.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense for residing in doorways, expanding criminalization (indicator for oppose) without addressing reform or safety improvements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2030: RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for purchasing body cameras for adult correctional officers to wear while on duty at state correctional facilities, beginning on or after 7/1/2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds body cameras for correctional officers to enhance accountability in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 2279: RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT ORDERS.

Amends the expungement orders law 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. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpunges minor offense records (violations), aiding rehabilitation and reducing barriers - core criminal justice reform measure aligning with reduced recidivism indicators.95% confidence

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 2749: RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Amends repeat offender sentencing provisions to allow sentencing courts, under certain circumstances, to sentence defendants in class C felony cases to probation with appropriate terms and conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows probation for repeat offenders in class C felonies, reducing incarceration and supporting rehabilitation-focused sentencing reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2867: RELATING TO DEMENTIA.

Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, fire chiefs, Law Enforcement Standards Board, and Department of Health to provide or require the provision of at least 1 hour of dementia‑specific training for first responders, including law enforcement officers, fire first responders, and emergency medical services personnel. Requires the Executive Office on Aging to review and recommend dementia-specific training curricula that address the recognition and signs of Alzheimer's disease and related types of dementia.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires dementia training for law enforcement officers, enhancing officer accountability and reducing improper responses in dementia-related incidents.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates dementia-specific training for first responders to improve recognition and response to Alzheimer's/dementia incidents, enhancing health service quality for vulnerable patients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 224: RELATING TO PROPERTY RIGHTS.

Establishes a procedure for immediately removing an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises with assistance from law enforcement. Provides that an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises is civilly liable for unpaid utility bills. Provides that a person who trespasses in or upon a dwelling or premises and intentionally or knowingly damages property in an amount exceeding $999 commits a felony of criminal property damage in the second degree. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop, publish, and make available a complaint form to remove unlawful occupants of residential dwellings. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminal penalties by making property damage over $999 a felony, increasing criminalization rather than reforming justice.90% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill prioritizes property owner rights by enabling swift removal of occupants and imposing penalties on trespassers, weakening tenant protections without addressing affordable housing or tenant safeguards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 160: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to construct a mental health facility for inmates or detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Appropriates moneys.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health facility for inmates, advancing rehabilitation within corrections system per bill's explicit funding and facility construction mandate.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds to construct mental health facility for inmates, directly advancing mental health services through healthcare infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2084: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Victim Witness Program, directly funding an essential state service through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds victim witness program, directly supporting crime victim services within the criminal justice system as part of VOCA grants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 1681: RELATING TO PRIVACY.

HB 1681 creates a new criminal offense for sharing intimate images without the person's consent. It directly affects individuals who distribute such images without permission, making this act a punishable offense. The key provision establishes specific penalties for this nonconsensual distribution, targeting a clear privacy violation. The bill focuses on defining and penalizing this specific behavior to protect individuals' privacy rights. (This is a substantive policy change, not a procedural measure.)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates criminal penalty for nonconsensual intimate image distribution, protecting privacy rights as civil rights enforcement within criminal justice framework.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill directly protects data privacy by criminalizing nonconsensual distribution of intimate images, a core aspect of digital rights and privacy safeguards.95% confidence

Tags Privacy

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