Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 610: RELATING TO COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS.

HB 610 creates a new Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of the Attorney General and appropriates funding for its operations. The unit will focus on reviewing unresolved criminal cases, directly affecting the Attorney General's Department by providing dedicated resources for these investigations. Key provisions include establishing the unit's structure and allocating state funds for its staffing and activities. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for a new Cold Case Unit, directly allocating budget resources to fund a government program.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new Cold Case Unit with state funding to resolve unresolved cases, directly strengthening criminal justice investigation capacity and resource allocation.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 669: RELATING TO NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

Requires the court to impose a mandatory fine per violation for nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses. Allows citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits against places used for illegal gambling the same rights and protections as those afforded to victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory fines for gambling nuisance abatement increase penalties and expand criminalization without reform elements like rehabilitation or accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 287: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for Victim Witness Assistance Program, a public service, indicating support for funding essential programs under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly supporting victim services within criminal justice system per bill's purpose and topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 477: RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Makes a second or subsequent conviction for violation of a domestic abuse protective order a class C felony. Increases the sentencing requirements for second or subsequent convictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for repeat domestic abuse violations by elevating to class C felony, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing and expanded criminalization.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1417: RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS.

Specifies that intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a protective services worker who is engaged in the performance of the worker's duties is a class C felony. Clarifies that a protective services worker is a public servant for the purposes of section 707-716, HRS, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for harming protective services workers, strengthening legal protections within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill classifies assaults on protective services workers as felonies, directly enhancing workplace safety protections for this specific worker group, aligning with labor safety indicators.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 2383: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to all eligible sworn law enforcement officers who meet specified requirements. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to verify eligibility. Appropriates funds for the payment of retention bonuses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $15,000 retention bonuses for law enforcement, increasing state spending on public safety programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds $15k retention bonuses for law enforcement officers, directly supporting personnel stability within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1149: RELATING TO HATE CRIMES.

Defines "reported hate crime". Requires reporting of all possible reported hate crimes to appropriate authorities, including consistent documentation and analysis of such incidents. Requires law enforcement officers to receive annual training to identify, investigate, and document hate crimes and possible hate crimes. Requires the Attorney General to establish or update guidelines, protocols, and training materials for the reporting and investigation of hate crimes and possible hate crimes. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires hate crime training, consistent reporting, and accountability protocols, enhancing law enforcement accountability and civil rights protections in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1413: RELATING TO CRIME.

Includes individuals involved in organized crime among the persons who may be subjected to extended terms of imprisonment for the commission of felonies.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates extended imprisonment for organized crime felons, increasing sentencing severity without reform elements, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 689: RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.

HB 689 establishes legal protections ("safe harbor") for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical care or contact law enforcement. It directly affects survivors by shielding them from legal consequences for actions related to their exploitation, such as possession of controlled substances or minor legal violations. The bill creates a clear pathway for survivors to access necessary services without fear of prosecution. It takes effect on July 1, 3000, as stated in the official abstract. This is a substantive policy change focused on survivor safety and access to support.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 689 creates safe harbor protections for sexual exploitation survivors, shielding them from prosecution for minor acts related to exploitation. This directly advances victim-centered criminal justice reform by removing barriers to medical/legal ...95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates safe harbor for sexual exploitation survivors to access medical care without legal repercussions, directly improving healthcare access and protecting patient rights for vulnerable populations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 286: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR CAREER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Career Criminal Prosecution Unit. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds to a government unit, directly advancing budget allocation for public safety programs without tax implications.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAppropriates funds for Career Criminal Prosecution Unit, directly strengthening enforcement against repeat offenders within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

Track