THE SENATE

KA AHA KENEKOA

 

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair

Senator Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

 

DATE:

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

TIME:

9:45 AM

PLACE:

Conference Room 016 & Videoconference

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL

BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY

 

The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.

A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.

 

 

A G E N D A

 

GM 573

      Status & Testimony

Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee, Gubernatorial Nominee, LOU ANN BLAKE, for a term to expire 06-30-2029.

 

 

JDC

HB 2095, HD2

      (HSCR1209-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Appropriates supplemental funds for the Judiciary for the fiscal biennium beginning 7/1/2025 and ending 6/30/2027.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

JDC, WAM

HB 1520, HD1

      (HSCR908-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Clarifies that the five‑year statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of campaign finance violations begins upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

JDC

HB 1548, HD1

      (HSCR907-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Limits the maximum term of imprisonment for misdemeanors, or for offenses punishable by up to or not exceeding one year, to three hundred sixty-four days.  Allows individuals previously sentenced to a one-year term of imprisonment to apply to the court for a sentence modification to conform to the new limit.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

JDC

HB 2050, HD1

      (HSCR1009-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices.  Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program.  Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions.  Appropriates funds for the program.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

JDC, WAM

HB 2494, HD1

      (HSCR917-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations, and requires officers to document the justification for the arrests.  Amends the circumstances under which officers may issue citations in lieu of arrest.  Requires officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain petty misdemeanors and violations, unless public safety or flight risks are present or the alleged offense involves operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant or the abuse of family or household members.  Requires the Judiciary to promulgate a standardized citation form and updates the required information for citations.  Requires the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit reports.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

JDC, WAM

 

 

 

 

Decision Making to follow, if time permits.

 

All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.

 

Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.

 

Please note the following:

 

·         The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.

·         Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 2 minutes each.

 

If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf

 

For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.

 

For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email JDCcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.

 

For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored.  If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-586-6130.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

Senator Karl Rhoads

Chair