CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 69-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1548

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SENTENCING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Limit the maximum term of imprisonment for misdemeanors that are not crimes of violence, or for offenses that are not crimes of violence punishable by up to or not exceeding one year, to three hundred sixty-four days; and

(2) Allow individuals previously sentenced to a one-year term of imprisonment for an offense that is not a crime of violence to apply to the court for a sentence modification to conform to the new limit.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the post-conviction relief provision to allow persons previously sentenced for a non-violent misdemeanor offense to apply to the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction for reconsideration of the sentence to reflect a maximum possible penalty of three hundred sixty-four days; and

(2) Changing the effective date to upon approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Chair