Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 67: AFFIRMING THE LEGISLATURE'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, DUE PROCESS, AND FAIR TREATMENT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WITHIN HAWAII'S JUSTICE SYSTEM.

This House Resolution affirms the Hawaii legislature's commitment to public safety and fair treatment for domestic violence survivors within the state's justice system. It recommends that the Judiciary review policies related to case assignment, training, and victim notification to improve consistency and efficiency. The resolution also urges the Honolulu Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to implement reforms such as assigning experienced attorneys to domestic violence cases, requiring mandatory training for all prosecutors, and ensuring timely case assignments. Additionally, it suggests the state consider expanding victim support services including emergency funds, mental health counseling, pro bono legal services, emergency housing, and childcare assistance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes fair treatment for domestic violence survivors and recommends judicial reforms to improve consistency and efficiency in the justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Victims' Rights

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 185: URGING ALL COUNTY PLANNING AND PERMITTING AGENCIES TO DENY ALL PERMIT APPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION, OR USE OF WAREHOUSES BY UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETAINING INDIVIDUALS FACING DEPORTATION.

This bill urges county planning and permitting agencies in Hawaii to deny all permit applications for the construction, expansion, or use of warehouses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for detaining individuals facing deportation. The resolution directs these agencies to refuse permits specifically for facilities intended to house large numbers of people in warehouse settings, citing concerns about mass incarceration and local resource strain. It is a non-binding recommendation that applies to county-level planning departments across Hawaii's major islands. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but instead asks local officials to exercise their permitting authority to block such facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts ICE detention facilities, limiting federal criminal justice enforcement capabilities and opposing mass incarceration practices.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts ICE detention facilities by denying permits, limiting federal immigration enforcement capacity at state level95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SCR 64: REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO REMOVE CANNABIS FROM THE FEDERAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT, PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STATES THAT ARE CLEARING DEFENDANTS' RECORDS OF CANNABIS OFFENSES, AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF BANKING SERVICES FOR CANNABIS-RELATED BUSINESSES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the U.S. Congress to remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, support states that are expunging cannabis-related criminal records, and allow cannabis businesses to access full banking services. The bill directly affects cannabis dispensaries, businesses, and individuals with past cannabis convictions in Hawaii and other states. It seeks to align federal law with state-level legalization efforts by requesting federal action rather than creating new state laws. The resolution does not change any state laws but instead asks federal lawmakers to update national policies regarding cannabis classification and financial services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill seeks to remove cannabis from federal controlled substances, support expunging criminal records, and facilitate banking for cannabis businesses, directly advancing criminal justice reform and reducing barriers for individuals with past convic...90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 191: URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION TO RELEASE ALL FEDERAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN INVESTIGATIONS WITH LIMITED REDACTIONS SOLELY TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY AND SAFETY OF VICTIMS.

This bill is a formal request from the Hawaii Senate asking the U.S. President and Congress to release all federal records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations, with redactions only to protect victims' privacy and safety. It directly affects federal agencies holding Epstein-related documents and calls for greater transparency in how these records are handled. The resolution criticizes current Department of Justice actions for allegedly over-redacting names of individuals involved while under-redacting victim information, and urges Congress to investigate all implicated parties. It does not create new laws but serves as an official appeal for federal officials to take specific actions regarding document disclosure and accountability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes transparency in criminal justice investigations by requesting release of federal records with victim privacy protections, enhancing accountability in law enforcement oversight.85% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 45: URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION TO RELEASE ALL FEDERAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN INVESTIGATIONS WITH LIMITED REDACTIONS SOLELY TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY AND SAFETY OF VICTIMS.

This Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution urges the President and Congress to release all federal records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations, with redactions limited only to protecting the privacy and safety of victims. The bill responds to concerns that current federal actions have either exposed victim identities or withheld information about individuals involved in the crimes. It calls for full transparency regarding who was connected to Epstein and how the abuse network operated, while requesting that Congress compel implicated individuals to testify under oath. The resolution is a non-binding statement of intent rather than a law that directly changes federal policy.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill seeks transparency in criminal justice investigations and victim protection, promoting accountability in law enforcement and judicial processes.75% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 180: URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION TO RELEASE ALL FEDERAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN INVESTIGATIONS WITH LIMITED REDACTIONS SOLELY TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY AND SAFETY OF VICTIMS.

This Senate Resolution from Hawaii urges the U.S. President and Congress to release all federal records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations, with redactions limited only to protecting the privacy and safety of victims. It directly addresses the U.S. executive and legislative branches, calling for full transparency in government documents that have been mishandled by the Department of Justice. The resolution specifically requests that the Department of Justice stop releasing unredacted victim identities while also removing unnecessary redactions on the names and communications of other individuals involved in the case. Additionally, it asks Congress to investigate and compel testimony from all individuals implicated in the Epstein files.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes transparency in criminal justice investigations and calls for accountability in government document handling, supporting criminal justice reform and oversight.90% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 32: REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR ADVISOR FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO FORMULATE A PLAN TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL FOR CERTAIN MENTALLY ILL- CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS.

This House Resolution asks the Governor's Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System to create a plan for increasing access to the Hawaii State Hospital for mentally ill criminal defendants and individuals recently released from the facility. The request is based on concerns that the hospital is currently at full capacity, with most patients being evaluated for fitness to stand trial, which limits available space for other needed placements. The resolution directs the Senior Advisor to develop a strategy for creating shelter placements for these populations and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026. This measure focuses on improving coordination among state agencies to address placement shortages rather than changing existing laws or funding levels.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill seeks to improve access to mental health services for criminal defendants, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through better treatment options.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill seeks to increase access to mental health services by expanding capacity at Hawaii State Hospital for criminal defendants, directly improving patient access to healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 136: URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO RESTORE THE PRIOR FORMAT, ORGANIZATION, AND SUBSTANTIVE COMPLETENESS OF THE COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.

This Senate resolution from Hawaii urges the U.S. Department of State to restore the previous format and content of its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The bill directly affects the State Department and international observers who rely on these reports to monitor human rights conditions globally. It calls for the inclusion of previously covered topics such as prison conditions, corruption, restrictions on speech and assembly, and other abuses that were reportedly reduced in recent versions. The resolution emphasizes that comprehensive reporting is essential for accountability and transparency in documenting human rights violations worldwide.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill seeks to restore comprehensive human rights reporting including prison conditions and corruption, enhancing accountability and oversight in criminal justice systems.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 93: REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP AND PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON WAYS TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION, INTERVENTIONS, AND PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVORS OF IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE.

This bill requests the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and the Legislative Reference Bureau to create a working group focused on improving protections for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. The group will include representatives from law enforcement, legal offices, service providers, and survivors to review policies in other states and recommend changes to Hawaii law. The working group must submit a report with its findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature before the 2028 session begins and will be dissolved by the end of 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens protections for survivors of image-based sexual abuse through enhanced law enforcement and legal protections, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 121: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INCREASE PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS FOR DOG ATTACKS ON LIVESTOCK.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks state agencies to strengthen penalties and enforcement for dog attacks on livestock. It directly affects livestock producers in Hawaii who face financial losses when their animals are harmed by uncontrolled dogs. The bill does not create new laws but formally requests the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Department of Law Enforcement to review and increase penalties and enforcement measures for these incidents. The resolution is intended to address the economic and emotional impacts livestock producers experience from dog attacks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill seeks to strengthen penalties and enforcement for dog attacks on livestock, aligning with enhancing law enforcement accountability and protection of property rights.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Tags Agriculture

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