Criminal Justice

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 892: RELATING TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRICTIONS.

HB 892 limits the geographic restrictions courts can impose as conditions of probation. It prevents courts from requiring probationers to avoid entire neighborhoods, regions, or areas without specific, justifiable reasons tied to public safety. This directly affects individuals on probation in criminal cases who might otherwise face overly broad location bans. The bill sets clear boundaries to ensure such restrictions are reasonable and directly related to the case, rather than arbitrary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts arbitrary geographic probation bans, protecting civil rights and promoting reasonable sentencing reform by requiring public safety justification for location restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House May 6, 2026

HB 1550: RELATING TO HEALTH.

HB 1550 removes drug testing products (like home kits or workplace screening tools) from the legal definition of "drug paraphernalia" under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This change directly affects businesses that sell these products and individuals who use them, as they will no longer face penalties for possessing them under current drug paraphernalia laws. The bill achieves this by amending the statute to specifically exclude these testing products from the prohibited category. The policy change clarifies legal status without altering broader drug control provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves drug testing products from drug paraphernalia laws, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with reform goals by eliminating penalties for possession.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 261: RELATING TO PUBLIC ORDER.

Establishes the offense of loitering on public property and adds trespassing on public property to the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree. Establishes the homeless case management program and special fund, administered by the judiciary for the benefit of persons experiencing homelessness.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds loitering as new offense and expands trespassing, increasing criminalization; homelessness program is separate but doesn't offset primary criminalizing intent.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes homeless case management program and special fund for persons experiencing homelessness, directly addressing housing needs through funding and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 2730: RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations, and requires officers to document the justification for the arrests. Amends the circumstances under which officers may issue citations in lieu of arrest. Requires officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain petty misdemeanors and violations, unless public safety or flight risks are present or the alleged offense involves operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant or the abuse of family or household members. Requires the Judiciary to promulgate a standardized citation form and updates the required information for citations. Requires the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit reports. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates documentation for warrantless arrests, requires citations over arrest for petty offenses, and standardizes forms - key accountability and reform measures to reduce unnecessary arrests.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 705: RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a local health officer or local agent of the Department of Health from stating on a certificate of death or in any report that the cause of death was excited delirium. Prohibits law enforcement officers from using the term excited delirium to describe an individual in an incident report. Establishes a new rule of evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement from using 'excited delirium' in reports, reducing potential cover for excessive force incidents and aligning with accountability reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 192: RELATING TO EXPLOSION DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.

Requires the county police departments to purchase and deploy explosion detection technology equipment to assist in the location of and response to explosions caused by the illegal use of firearms and fireworks. Appropriates moneys to the counties as a grant in aid.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds via grant in aid to counties for explosion detection technology, directly funding public safety through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds police departments with explosion detection tech for public safety response to illegal firearms/fireworks, directly supporting law enforcement within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 457: RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS.

Requires state and local law enforcement agencies to notify an individual of their rights when in law enforcement agency custody before any interview with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on certain matters regarding immigration violations. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement to notify rights before ICE interviews, strengthening due process and civil rights protections in custody per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires law enforcement to notify individuals of rights before ICE interviews, protecting due process during immigration enforcement interactions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies Tags Civil Liberties

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2058: RELATING TO SAFE COMMUNITIES.

Requires the Attorney General to designate safe community places. Prohibits employees at safe community places from providing voluntary consent to federal law enforcement agents for operations that identify or seek to identify apprehend, arrest, or impose any other penalty for activities protected by the First Amendment or immigration enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement from enabling federal actions targeting First Amendment-protected activities, protecting civil rights and limiting overreach in criminal justice enforcement.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly prohibits state employees from consenting to federal immigration enforcement operations targeting First Amendment-protected activities, directly limiting state cooperation with federal enforcement to protect immigrant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies Tags Civil Liberties

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2813: RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE.

SB 2813 creates a Domestic Abuse Offender Registry within the Attorney General's Department, requiring the state to maintain a public list of individuals convicted of domestic abuse offenses. The bill appropriates funding to establish and operate this registry, which would provide law enforcement and the public with access to offender information. This directly affects individuals convicted of domestic abuse, as their details would be added to the registry. The key mechanism is the centralized database managed by the Attorney General's office, funded through state appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to establish and operate Domestic Abuse Offender Registry, directly allocating budget resources for a new program.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Domestic Abuse Offender Registry to enhance law enforcement access and public safety, directly strengthening criminal justice through improved offender tracking and transparency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 425: RELATING TO QUALIFIED COMMUNITY REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.

Clarifies that the civil service exemption for personal service contracts for building, custodial, and grounds maintenance services with qualified community rehabilitation programs shall not cost more than $850,000 in the aggregate per private person or entity, regardless of the number of contracts or qualified community rehabilitation programs utilized for the personal service. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies funding parameters for community rehab programs, supporting rehabilitation efforts to reduce recidivism within criminal justice reform framework.85% confidence

Track