Criminal Justice

signed · Hawaii · House May 6, 2026

HB 1516: RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

HB 1516 requires courts to consider a defendant's actual financial ability to pay bail when determining pretrial release conditions. This bill directly affects individuals facing pretrial detention decisions, particularly those with limited financial resources. The key provision mandates that judges evaluate specific factors related to a defendant's financial situation before setting bail amounts. The bill is currently in its early stages, having been introduced and passed first reading on January 21, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to assess financial ability for bail, preventing wealth-based pretrial detention and aligning with criminal justice reform to protect defendant rights.90% confidence

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 595: 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 public recording right to enhance police accountability, directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 474: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Requires clinical psychologists employed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to obtain licensure within five years from the date of employment. Sunsets on 7/1/2030. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires licensure for psychologists in Corrections & Rehabilitation, ensuring qualified mental health services to support inmate rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 263: RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL.

Increases the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel in criminal proceedings. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases funding for court-appointed counsel in criminal proceedings, enhancing defendant representation and access to fair trials per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 334: RELATING TO TRAFFIC CITATIONS.

HB 334 makes intentionally destroying or damaging traffic cameras a class C felony, effective July 1, 3000. The bill directly affects individuals who deliberately damage these cameras, imposing serious criminal penalties. Key provisions establish that such actions will be prosecuted as a class C felony, a significant criminal charge. This policy change specifically targets vandalism of traffic enforcement infrastructure, not traffic citation issuance or driver behavior.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClassifies vandalism of traffic cameras as class C felony, expanding criminalization of property damage related to enforcement infrastructure, directly increasing penalties for a specific act.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProtects traffic camera infrastructure to enhance road safety enforcement, aligning with transportation safety indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 650: RELATING TO HEALTH.

SB 650 makes it a Class A felony for caregivers to financially exploit vulnerable adults, such as elderly or disabled individuals. This law directly affects vulnerable adults who rely on caregivers for support and the caregivers themselves who commit such exploitation. The key provision elevates the penalty for this crime from a lower-level offense to the highest criminal classification, reflecting its severity. The bill aims to strengthen legal consequences for financial abuse in caregiving relationships.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeElevates financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to Class A felony, strengthening sentencing severity and legal consequences in criminal justice.95% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 279: RELATING TO DANGEROUS DRUGS.

SB 279 aligns the legal possession thresholds for fentanyl with those for methamphetamine, heroin, morphine, and cocaine. This means the amount of fentanyl that triggers criminal penalties will now match the established thresholds for these other serious drugs. The bill directly affects individuals possessing fentanyl, as it changes the point at which possession becomes a criminal offense under current law. This is a policy change to standardize penalties for fentanyl with other high-level controlled substances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAligns fentanyl possession thresholds with other drugs, reducing criminalization of low-level possession and standardizing penalties per reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 301: 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 to class C felony, aligning with stricter sentencing indicators rather than reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 481: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to issue a certificate of suitability for employment. Requires the Department to collaborate with state and federal agencies and private employers to educate stakeholders on the certification. Appropriate funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires offender employment certification and reentry collaboration, directly reducing recidivism through rehabilitation support - core criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates employment certification for offenders, reducing barriers to workforce reentry. Supports employment standards by facilitating job access for a group facing systemic employment challenges.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 523: RELATING TO THEFT.

Provides that a person who commits theft of property or services the value of which does not exceed $750, commits theft in the second degree if the person was convicted two or more times for any theft offenses in the five years prior to the current offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for repeat theft offenders by elevating to second-degree theft with prior convictions, strengthening mandatory sentencing.95% confidence

Track