STAND. COM. REP. NO. 484-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2092

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2092 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 certain public servants in connection with their performance of a governmental function.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Department of Education; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that public servants increasingly face harassment, threats, and acts of violence as a direct result of performing their official duties, creating safety risks that undermine the effective functioning of government. National and local reports, along with testimony describing alarming increases in violent and threatening behavior toward government employees, demonstrate that existing criminal statutes are inadequate for addressing lower‑level but harmful conduct such as repeated harassment or escalating intimidation. Your Committee believes that elevating harassment against a public servant to a misdemeanor will strengthen deterrence and help safeguard public officials so they can continue carrying out essential governmental functions without fear.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the definition of "public servant" to include more individuals under this measure;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2092, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2092, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair