Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 186: RELATING TO HARASSMENT BY STALKING.

HB 186 reclassifies harassment by stalking as a class C felony, making it a more serious criminal charge. This change directly affects individuals convicted of stalking-related harassment, potentially leading to harsher sentencing. The bill modifies the legal classification, moving it from a lower-level offense to a felony, which impacts how courts handle such cases and the penalties imposed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies stalking harassment to class C felony, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 290: RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST ELDERS.

HB 290 establishes that crimes committed against individuals aged 60 or older automatically qualify as crimes against elders, creating strict liability based solely on the victim's age. This means any criminal act against someone 60+ would trigger enhanced penalties under this law, directly affecting elderly victims and potentially altering sentencing for offenders. The key provision removes the need to prove the perpetrator knew the victim's age, making the victim's age a decisive factor in classification. The bill is currently pending in the 2026 legislative session after being introduced in January 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates enhanced penalties via strict liability for crimes against elders, increasing mandatory sentences without requiring perpetrator knowledge of victim age, expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Tags Seniors

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 580: RELATING TO DANGEROUS DRUGS.

Establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree if the conviction is predicated on the possession of methamphetamine or fentanyl, and progressive mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment if the person has prior convictions predicated on the trafficking of methamphetamine or the possession of methamphetamine or fentanyl.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeEstablishes mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, increasing punitive sentencing and expanding criminalization per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 917: RELATING TO SENTENCING.

HB 917 would require a minimum prison sentence for individuals convicted of possessing methamphetamine or fentanyl. It directly affects people charged with these specific drug possession offenses by eliminating judicial discretion in sentencing for these crimes. The bill's key provision mandates a fixed term of imprisonment without consideration of individual circumstances, such as prior record or mitigating factors. This legislation is currently pending in committee and has not yet advanced to a vote.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates fixed prison terms without judicial discretion for drug possession, increasing mandatory sentences and reducing defendant rights per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 990: RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Requires the court to impose a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment without possibility of parole or probation for a person convicted of a sexual assault offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory minimum without parole for sexual assault increases sentencing severity, directly opposing reform indicators like reduced recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Violent Crime

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2516: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

SB 2516 creates a new penalty system for obstructing criminal investigations, directly affecting individuals who interfere with law enforcement (e.g., witnesses lying or defendants tampering with evidence). It replaces a flat penalty with a "gradient structure," meaning punishments increase based on the severity of the original crime being obstructed. For example, hindering a murder investigation would carry a harsher penalty than obstructing a minor traffic violation case. This change aims to make sentencing more proportional to the seriousness of the underlying offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens penalties for obstructing investigations, directly enhancing law enforcement's ability to prosecute crimes and aligning with 'Hindering Prosecution' subject.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 3042: 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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows probation for repeat offenders in class C felonies, reducing mandatory prison time and promoting rehabilitation-focused sentencing reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole Sentencing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2518: RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SB 2518 increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers in the first degree, which is the most serious category of such assault. It directly affects individuals convicted of attacking officers and strengthens legal consequences for these offenses. The bill establishes stricter sentencing requirements, including longer prison terms, for first-degree assault against police officers. This changes the current penalty structure to impose harsher punishments for this specific crime.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaulting officers with stricter sentencing and longer prison terms, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher punishment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 198: RELATING TO TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.

Increases the mandatory minimum jail sentence for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Requires mandatory mental health counseling for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory jail sentence for TRO violations, aligning with tough-on-crime sentencing policies that oppose reform efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2191: RELATING TO CRIME.

HB 2191 increases penalties for repeat offenders by doubling both fines and prison sentences for individuals convicted of repeated violent crimes (like assault or robbery) or property crimes (such as burglary or theft). This bill directly affects people with prior convictions in these categories who are sentenced for new offenses. The key provision mandates that courts must apply double the standard penalties under existing law for these repeat offenses. The bill was introduced on January 26, 2026, and referred to the Judiciary and Health Affairs committee on January 30.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill doubles penalties for repeat violent/property crimes, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Violent Crime

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