STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2968

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2438

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2438, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL INTERFERENCE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide additional protections for constitutional and statutory rights.

Specifically, the measure establishes a statutory process by which any person who intentionally or knowingly interferes, or attempts to interfere, with any constitutional or statutory right by threats, intimidation, or coercion may be held liable in a civil action brought by the aggrieved person, the Attorney General, or the Corporation Counsel or County Attorney of any county.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Fujiwara and Rosenbaum, LLC; The Legal Clinic; ACLU of Hawaii; Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; Hawaii Civil Rights Commission; and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that rights guaranteed under the State's constitution and statutes are meaningful only if they are enforceable. Your Committee believes that the civil causes of action established by this measure will help deter interference with those rights, provide effective civil remedies for any interference, and help promote accountability.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2438, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair