STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3095

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3251

S.D. 2

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. 3251, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Roots Reborn, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Indivisible Hawaii Statewide Network, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association, and thirty-six individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that public confidence is foundational to effective state law enforcement. The State has long prioritized community-centered policing, constitutional safeguards, and respect for civil rights. Your Committee further finds that across the country, there have been numerous incidents involving alleged violations of constitutional rights, excessive use of force, prolonged detention of United States citizens, and a lack of accountability in immigration enforcement operations. These federal enforcement actions have eroded public trust and raised serious civil rights questions. This conduct does not align with the values of the State's law enforcement agencies, nor their standards of constitutional compliance. This measure will establish a clear statewide employment standard to maintain public trust in the State's law enforcement institutions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that a person who has worked for the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol for more than ninety days cumulatively between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, shall be barred from appointment or employment as a law enforcement officer at certain state agencies; 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. 3251, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3251, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair