HawaiiHawaii limits state and county officers' immigration enforcement role
Hawaii law limits state and county officers' immigration enforcement role, including detention and information sharing, while allowing cooperation required by law or court orders.
What it does
Hawaii law enforcement cannot sign agreements to enforce federal immigration laws or volunteer resources for civil immigration enforcement. Assistance required by law or court orders remains allowed.
Unless law requires otherwise, agencies cannot extend custody for immigration hold requests. Transfers need a judge's authorization, and immigration interviews need written consent unless law or a court order requires access.
Unless law requires otherwise, agencies cannot ask about citizenship or immigration status without a local crime connection. They also restrict immigration notifications and sharing private information in noncriminal matters, with legal and court-order exceptions.
Argument forLimits on immigration questions and information sharing could help immigrants feel safer reporting crimes or seeking help from local police.
Argument againstLimits on notifications and local assistance could make it harder for federal immigration officers to coordinate enforcement with Hawaii agencies.
More detail
Hawaii law enforcement agencies and officers cannot sign federal immigration enforcement agreements or voluntarily provide resources for civil immigration enforcement. The rules cover Hawaii agencies that enforce state or county laws, operate prisons or juvenile detention facilities, or hold people in those facilities, along with their officers. Officers may still perform their state law duties and comply with judge-issued warrants, court orders, and subpoenas. Information or assistance required by federal or state law remains allowed, as does information sharing under the federal laws identified in the chapter. These rules took effect upon approval on June 24, 2026.
Agencies cannot extend custody based on a federal immigration hold request, except when federal or state law requires it. These limits cover people held by Hawaii state and county law enforcement or correctional agencies. Transfers require a judge-issued warrant or a judge's finding of probable cause, meaning reasonable grounds for the transfer, unless law requires otherwise. Immigration interviews in custody require the person's written consent unless a law or court order requires access. Compliance with judge-issued warrants, court orders, and subpoenas remains allowed. These rules took effect upon approval on June 24, 2026. Previously established rights and duties, penalties already incurred, and proceedings already begun are preserved.
Agencies must limit citizenship and immigration questions and information sharing with federal immigration officers. The rules cover Hawaii state and county law enforcement agencies and their officers. Citizenship or immigration questions are allowed when connected to investigating a state or county crime. Information sharing required by law or court orders remains allowed, along with sharing in accordance with federal laws 8 U.S.C. 1373 and 1644. These limits took effect upon approval on June 24, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 24Act 141, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1242).Latest
- Jun 24Act 141, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1242).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Kila voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Wakai, Rhoads, Lee, C.; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Tarnas, Templo, Hussey; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Gedeon; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 194-26).
- May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 194-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- Apr 30Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 877).Minor
- Apr 29House Conferees Appointed: Ilagan, Tarnas, Templo Co-Chairs; Hussey, Gedeon.
- Apr 29Conference committee meeting scheduled for 05-01-26 3:30PM; Conference Room 016.
- Apr 27Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 762).Minor
- Apr 24Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; Wakai, Rhoads Co-Chairs; Lee, C..
- Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 616).Minor
- Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
- Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
- Apr 14Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Kila voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2136-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Apr 8The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon; and Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 30Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1546-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
- Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Kila voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (7) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
- Mar 24The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 19Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1242-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 19Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (8) and none excused (0).Minor
- Mar 18The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Gedeon; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Referred to ECD, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 17Minor
- Mar 12Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 03-18-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 10Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 159) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
- Mar 6Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3093) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Mar 648 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
- Mar 5The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 27The committee on JDC will reconsider its previous decision on 02-26-26 and will hold a public decision making on 03-05-26 10:05AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- Feb 26The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded Reconsider: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- Feb 18Reported from PSM/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2374) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
- Feb 18Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.Minor
- Feb 10The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Feb 6The committee(s) on PSM/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 3:07PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
- Jan 22Referred to PSM/EIG, JDC.Minor
- Jan 21Introduced and passed First Reading.Minor
- Jan 14Pending Introduction.Introduced
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