Criminal Justice

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2250: RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Amends the offense of promoting a controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, or public housing projects or complexes to include homeless facilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by adding homeless facilities to prohibited zones for promoting controlled substances, increasing drug offense penalties in vulnerable areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 433: RELATING TO WEAPONS.

Prohibits any person from openly carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. Includes bladed weapon in the list of deadly or dangerous weapons. Establishes an affirmative defense to a prosecution for the purposes of lawful self-defense and transporting a weapon.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits open carry of bladed weapons, expanding criminalization of weapon possession under criminal law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 782: RELATING TO YOUTH AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the State's youth and adult correctional facilities to provide free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated persons in state correctional facilities. Prohibits any state agency from deriving revenue or financial benefit from the provision of communication services to persons confined in state correctional facilities. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish service quality standards and rules for the free voice communication services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates free communication services in correctional facilities, prohibiting revenue extraction and promoting family connections to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 24, 2026

SB 3040: RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

SB 3040 replaces the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission with a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention and allocates state funding for its operations. The bill establishes a dedicated state office to coordinate gun violence prevention strategies, though specific programs or initiatives are not detailed in the abstract. It directly affects state government by creating this new entity and directing resources toward prevention efforts. The bill is currently pending committee review, with a public hearing scheduled for February 11, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for new Office of Gun Violence Prevention, directly addressing budget appropriation for a state office per subjects list.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates Office of Gun Violence Prevention and funds it, aligning with criminal justice reform by focusing on prevention, a key reform strategy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 871: RELATING TO ARSON.

Authorizes periods of imprisonment for individuals with previous arson convictions. Authorizes additional penalties for arson crimes that endanger vulnerable areas. Requires restitution for victims of arson who experienced property damage. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAuthorizes longer imprisonment for repeat offenders and additional penalties, increasing mandatory sentences per arson provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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signed · Hawaii · House May 26, 2026

HB 1518: RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Human Services, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to establish a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process for inmates nearing release. Allows all individuals convicted of an offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance to apply for SNAP benefits, regardless of treatment status. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides SNAP access to inmates nearing release (including drug offenders), removing barriers to reentry and supporting rehabilitation to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1387: RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

HB 1387 lowers the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving under the influence of any intoxicant (including alcohol or drugs). It directly affects drivers operating vehicles by making it illegal to drive with a BAC above the new, lower threshold. The bill establishes a specific BAC limit (not specified in the abstract) that will replace the current standard, effective July 1, 3000. This is a concrete policy change to strengthen DUI enforcement, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens DUI enforcement by lowering BAC threshold, directly advancing law enforcement policies within criminal justice as described in bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationLowers BAC limit to strengthen DUI enforcement, directly enhancing road safety standards under transportation policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2353: RELATING TO THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CENTRAL REGISTRY.

Provides a path for expungement from the child abuse and neglect registry for survivors of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, or coercive abuse if certain conditions are met.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpungement for abuse survivors reduces systemic barriers, aligns with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and aiding reintegration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 2083: RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Amends the offense of promoting a controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, or public housing projects or complexes to include homeless facilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding homeless facilities to drug-free zones, increasing penalties for promoting controlled substances in new locations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 1954: RELATING TO IDENTITY THEFT.

HB 1954 updates the state's identity theft law to explicitly include fraudulent impersonation using artificial intelligence or materially deceptive media (like deepfakes) as a form of identity theft. This directly affects victims of AI-generated scams or fake media used to steal identities or commit fraud. The key provision adds these specific methods to the legal definition of identity theft offenses, making them punishable under existing laws. The bill is currently in committee review after its introduction on January 23, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands legal definition of identity theft to include AI deepfakes, strengthening enforcement against modern fraud while aligning with criminal justice system's evolving needs.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAdds AI/deepfake impersonation to identity theft law, strengthening consumer protection against tech-enabled fraud and enhancing data privacy safeguards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection

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