STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2130-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2568

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2568, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to elevate the offense of harassment to a misdemeanor when committed against a public servant because of or during their performance of official duties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Department of Education; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Hawaiʻi Teachers Association; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Public Citizen; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that there has been a significant and troubling rise in threats and harassment directed toward public servants, which undermines their safety and the public's trust in government. Existing law has proven difficult to apply effectively, and current penalties for harassment may not be a sufficient deterrent to this harmful behavior. Your Committee further finds that this measure will provide stronger statutory protections to safeguard public servants and ensure the effective functioning of government.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the definition of "public servant" to conform to the definition used for offenses against public administration; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2568, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2568, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair