SB 2568HawaiiProcess complete

Harassment tied to government work would be a misdemeanor

The measure would treat harassment connected to the government work of listed Hawaii public servants as a misdemeanor after approval.

What it does

People who harass listed public servants while those officials perform government work would face a misdemeanor classification, subject to the existing harassment offense’s requirements.

Argument forA misdemeanor classification could give officials and election workers stronger legal protection when harassment interferes with their government duties.

Argument againstPeople could face criminal penalties for harassment connected to a public servant’s work, although the existing harassment offense and other limits would still apply.

More detail

The measure would classify harassment of a covered public servant as a misdemeanor. Covered public servants include state leaders, legislators, listed state and federal judges, court administrators, probation officers, and Office of Elections employees or volunteers. The person must commit the existing harassment offense under section 711-1106. The conduct must relate to the public servant’s performance of a government function. Federal judges are covered only if they meet the stated Hawaii residence or property conditions. The provision would apply upon approval, while preserving rights, duties, penalties, and proceedings that arose or began before its effective date.

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 SenateMar 10
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 237, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1339).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 237, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1339).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - 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; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Iwamoto, Matsumoto, Muraoka voting no (6) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 56-26).
9. Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
10. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 56-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
12. Apr 24The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
13. Apr 24The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Tarnas, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
14. Apr 23Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).Minor
15. Apr 23Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 3:50PM; Conference Room 325.
16. Apr 22House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Reyes Oda.
17. Apr 20Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Gabbard, Chang.
18. Apr 20Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).Minor
19. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 673).Minor
20. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
21. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
22. Apr 14Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting no (2) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
23. Apr 10Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2130-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
24. Apr 10Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
25. Apr 8The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
26. Apr 6Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
27. Mar 30Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1468-26) 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
28. Mar 30Passed 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 Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
29. Mar 24The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
30. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
32. Mar 12Referred to LAB, JHA, referral sheet 17Minor
33. Mar 10Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Result: pass.Upper
34. Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 262) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
35. Mar 6Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2885) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
36. Mar 6Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).Minor
37. Mar 648 Hrs. Notice 3-10-26.
38. Feb 20The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
39. Feb 13The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 02-20-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.Minor
40. Feb 9The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
41. Jan 30Re-Referred to JDC.Minor
42. Jan 28Referred to GVO, JDC.Minor
43. Jan 23Introduced.Minor
44. Jan 23Passed First Reading.Introduced

Criminal JusticePublic SafetyGovernment & Ethics

Issue with this bill?

SB 2568HawaiiProcess complete

Harassment tied to government work would be a misdemeanor

The measure would treat harassment connected to the government work of listed Hawaii public servants as a misdemeanor after approval.

What it does

People who harass listed public servants while those officials perform government work would face a misdemeanor classification, subject to the existing harassment offense’s requirements.

Argument forA misdemeanor classification could give officials and election workers stronger legal protection when harassment interferes with their government duties.

Argument againstPeople could face criminal penalties for harassment connected to a public servant’s work, although the existing harassment offense and other limits would still apply.

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 SenateMar 10
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 237, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1339).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 237, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1339).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - 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; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Iwamoto, Matsumoto, Muraoka voting no (6) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 56-26).
9. Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
10. Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 56-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
12. Apr 24The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
13. Apr 24The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Tarnas, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
14. Apr 23Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).Minor
15. Apr 23Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 3:50PM; Conference Room 325.
16. Apr 22House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Reyes Oda.
17. Apr 20Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Gabbard, Chang.
18. Apr 20Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).Minor
19. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 673).Minor
20. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
21. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
22. Apr 14Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting no (2) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
23. Apr 10Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2130-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
24. Apr 10Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
25. Apr 8The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
26. Apr 6Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
27. Mar 30Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1468-26) 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
28. Mar 30Passed 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 Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
29. Mar 24The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
30. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
31. Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
32. Mar 12Referred to LAB, JHA, referral sheet 17Minor
33. Mar 10Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Result: pass.Upper
34. Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 262) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
35. Mar 6Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2885) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
36. Mar 6Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).Minor
37. Mar 648 Hrs. Notice 3-10-26.
38. Feb 20The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
39. Feb 13The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 02-20-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.Minor
40. Feb 9The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
41. Jan 30Re-Referred to JDC.Minor
42. Jan 28Referred to GVO, JDC.Minor
43. Jan 23Introduced.Minor
44. Jan 23Passed First Reading.Introduced

Criminal JusticePublic SafetyGovernment & Ethics

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