STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2784

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2518

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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2518 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish appropriate sanctions for the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, Kauaʻi Police Department, Hawaiʻi Police Department, and two individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State, like many jurisdictions in the United States, has seen a rise in the frequency and severity of attacks against law enforcement officers. For example, in 2024 more than three hundred police officers were assaulted in the State and the Honolulu Police Department observed a twenty percent increase in assaults on its officers between January and October compared to the same period the year before. The stronger penalties established by this measure will serve as a powerful deterrent for potential offenders.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2518, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2518, S.D. 1.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair