STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2374

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2057

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2057 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit law enforcement agencies from using any personnel or funds originating in the State to assist or facilitate conduct by federal agents that exceeds their statutory duty or authority; and

(2) Prohibit law enforcement officers from assisting or cooperating with or allowing resources to be used to facilitate federal agents engaged in operations that target individuals or entities for activities protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or immigration enforcement operations.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Green Party of Hawaiʻi, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Community Alliance on Prisons, Honolulu Hawaii NAACP, League of Women Voters' of Hawaii, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, 50501 Hawaii, General Strike Hawaii, UNITE HERE! Local 5, The Legal Clinic, ACLU Hawaiʻi, and ninety individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Police Department.

Your Committees find ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the State and other jurisdictions have generated widespread fear of law enforcement collaboration with federal authorities. This fear has a direct and measurable effect on individuals' willingness to access essential services and participate in the justice system. Many individuals who fear being victimized by immigration enforcement operations are hesitant to cooperate with legal processes, even when they would otherwise comply with the law. Ultimately, fear of collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement operations not only harms individuals and families, but also undermines public safety and the effective administration of justice. This measure ensures that the State's resources are not deployed to support federal agents whose conduct falls outside the bounds of their law enforcement duties, thereby supporting the rule of law.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that law enforcement officers are prohibited from using personnel or funds originating in the State to assist or facilitate conduct by federal immigration agents that exceeds their law enforcement duties or authority;

(2) Specifying that law enforcement officers are prohibited from using personnel or funds or cooperating with federal immigration agents engaged in operations that target individuals or entities for activities protected by the First Amendment or immigration enforcement operations; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2057, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2057, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair