HB 1959HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii law sets an end date for family abuse rules

People charged with abusing a family or household member may face certain offenses and penalties, while some cases may qualify for deferred guilty pleas, through June 30, 2031.

What it does

Certain rules for abuse of a family or household member have an end date of June 30, 2031. They include a petty misdemeanor offense, penalties, and deferred guilty pleas for some cases.

Argument forKeeping these rules in place may let courts continue using deferred guilty pleas in some misdemeanor family abuse cases.

Argument againstKeeping these offenses and penalties in place could expose people charged with family abuse to criminal penalties through 2031.

More detail

The law sets an end date of June 30, 2031, for certain rules about abuse of a family or household member. The rules include a petty misdemeanor offense, penalties, and deferred guilty pleas for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor offenses involving abuse of a family or household member. This Act takes effect June 29, 2026. The listed rules are set to end June 30, 2031.

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Tell your reps

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More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 23
Passed HouseMar 10
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJul 7

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 7Act 192, 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1294).Latest
2. Jul 7Act 192, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1294).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. 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
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 60-26) as amended in (CD 1).
9. Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
10. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 60-26).
11. Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
12. Apr 28The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Tarnas, Olds, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: 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
13. Apr 28The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Rhoads, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
14. Apr 27Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; McKelvey.
15. Apr 27Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 778).Minor
16. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 2:30PM in conference room 329.
17. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Olds, Alcos.
18. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
19. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
20. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
21. Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. 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. Result: pass.Upper
22. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 644) in amended form (SD 1).
23. Apr 10Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3751) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
24. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
25. Apr 7The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
26. Apr 1The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
27. Mar 25Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3171) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
28. Mar 25Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.Minor
29. Mar 18The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
30. Mar 13The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 1:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
31. Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 325).Minor
32. Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
33. Mar 12Referred to HHS, JDC.Minor
34. Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 6Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1127-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
36. Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
37. Feb 25The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
38. Feb 23Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
39. Feb 18Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 378-26) 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
40. Feb 18Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Minor
41. Feb 10The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
42. Feb 5Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
43. Jan 28Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 3Minor
44. Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
45. Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced

Criminal Justice

Issue with this bill?

HB 1959HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii law sets an end date for family abuse rules

People charged with abusing a family or household member may face certain offenses and penalties, while some cases may qualify for deferred guilty pleas, through June 30, 2031.

What it does

Certain rules for abuse of a family or household member have an end date of June 30, 2031. They include a petty misdemeanor offense, penalties, and deferred guilty pleas for some cases.

Argument forKeeping these rules in place may let courts continue using deferred guilty pleas in some misdemeanor family abuse cases.

Argument againstKeeping these offenses and penalties in place could expose people charged with family abuse to criminal penalties through 2031.

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 23
Passed HouseMar 10
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJul 7

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 7Act 192, 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1294).Latest
2. Jul 7Act 192, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1294).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. 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
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 60-26) as amended in (CD 1).
9. Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
10. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 60-26).
11. Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
12. Apr 28The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Tarnas, Olds, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: 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
13. Apr 28The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Rhoads, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
14. Apr 27Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; McKelvey.
15. Apr 27Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 778).Minor
16. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 2:30PM in conference room 329.
17. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Olds, Alcos.
18. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
19. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
20. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
21. Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. 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. Result: pass.Upper
22. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 644) in amended form (SD 1).
23. Apr 10Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3751) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
24. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
25. Apr 7The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
26. Apr 1The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
27. Mar 25Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3171) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
28. Mar 25Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.Minor
29. Mar 18The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
30. Mar 13The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 1:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
31. Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 325).Minor
32. Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
33. Mar 12Referred to HHS, JDC.Minor
34. Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 6Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1127-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
36. Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
37. Feb 25The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
38. Feb 23Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
39. Feb 18Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 378-26) 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
40. Feb 18Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Minor
41. Feb 10The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
42. Feb 5Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
43. Jan 28Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 3Minor
44. Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
45. Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced

Criminal Justice

Issue with this bill?

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History