Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3251: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts hiring of former ICE agents, aligning with accountability reforms in law enforcement employment.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits hiring former ICE agents, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement - directly aligns with support indicator of restricting federal collaboration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Border Security Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2290: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

By January 1, 2027, requires each law enforcement agency operating in the State to maintain a publicly available policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers and use of facial coverings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public policies on officer identification and facial coverings, enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement per criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2062: RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

Appropriates funds to the Judiciary for the efficient processing of temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders. Appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement to conduct public awareness campaigns on gun violence protective orders. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds enforcement of gun violence protective orders and public awareness campaigns, directly strengthening criminal justice efforts to prevent gun violence and enhance public safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 2382: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program to be administered by the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to eligible sworn law enforcement officers that have worked a minimum of two thousand hours during the preceding fiscal year, subject to collective bargaining negotiations. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Appropriates funds for the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $15,000 retention bonuses for law enforcement, directly funding staffing needs through state budget authority per bill's appropriation language.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds $15k retention bonuses for law enforcement officers to address staffing shortages, strengthening frontline operations within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds $15k retention bonuses for law enforcement officers, supporting compensation and subject to collective bargaining negotiations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Collective Bargaining

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 2737: RELATING TO BRIBERY.

Establishes the offense of failure to report bribery by a state elected official as a misdemeanor. Requires a state elected official who knows of or witnesses the conferring, offering, solicitation, or acceptance of a pecuniary benefit in violation of the bribery statute to report the conduct to the Department of the Attorney General, a county prosecuting attorney, a law enforcement agency, the State Ethics Commission, or a county ethics board within sixty days. Defines "state elected official". Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires elected officials to report bribery, enhancing accountability in criminal justice system per bribery reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 1912: RELATING TO TIME LIMITATIONS ON CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS.

Provides that for any offense based on misconduct by a public servant, the appliable period of limitations for a criminal prosecution shall not commence until discovery of the offense by law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDelays prosecution timeline until misconduct discovery, aiding accountability for public servants and protecting victim rights in criminal cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1388: RELATING TO RETIRANTS.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as an investigator in a position identified by the Department of Law Enforcement or Department of the Attorney General as a labor shortage or difficult—to-fill position, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction to include in the director's annual report to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as investigators. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill addresses law enforcement labor shortages by enabling retiree employment as investigators without benefit loss, directly supporting staffing needs in criminal justice agencies.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows retirees to work without losing retirement benefits in labor shortage investigator roles, protecting their employment rights and addressing workforce needs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1746: RELATING TO FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION.

HB 1746 establishes a rapid DNA investigative lead program within the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), allowing officers to quickly test DNA evidence from crime scenes to identify suspects. The bill appropriates funding to support this program, directly affecting HPD operations and criminal investigations. Key provisions include creating a dedicated unit to process DNA samples rapidly (within hours instead of weeks) to generate investigative leads. This program aims to expedite solving violent crimes by leveraging immediate DNA analysis, with no mention of broader public impact beyond law enforcement use.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds rapid DNA program for HPD to expedite solving violent crimes, enhancing law enforcement investigative efficiency within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 483: RELATING TO HAWAII COVERT OPERATIONS.

Establishes the Hawaii Covert Operations Against Smuggling and Transnational Threats program with the Department of Law Enforcement to combat smuggling of drugs and weapons and human trafficking.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes new law enforcement program targeting drug/weapons smuggling and trafficking, strengthening enforcement efforts against specific crimes per bill's purpose.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 664: RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to conduct community outreach on gun violence prevention, develop and administer a grant program for gun violence prevention, and develop and administer a gun violence resource bank. Moves the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission from the Office of the Attorney General to the Department of Law Enforcement. Replaces the Attorney General with the Director of Law Enforcement as Chair of the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission and includes the Attorney General as a commission member. Establishes the Gun Violence Prevention Special Fund and appropriates funds into and out of the special fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes prevention programs, grants, and resource banks focused on reducing gun violence through community outreach, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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