HB1283 • 2026

RELATING TO FAMILY.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: LAMOSAO, AMATO, EVSLIN, GARRETT, HOLT, KAHALOA, KILA, LEE, M., MARTEN, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, PERRUSO, POEPOE, SOUZA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material only provides information about exemptions from mediation in paternity and divorce proceedings due to domestic abuse allegations. It does not provide details on other aspects such as mediator training requirements or specific rights for victims beyond the context of mediation.

Family Law Changes Regarding Mediation and Domestic Abuse

This bill changes family law to allow people who say they are victims of domestic abuse to avoid mediation in paternity and divorce cases.

What This Bill Does

Allows a person claiming domestic abuse to skip mediation in paternity cases if the court agrees.
Requires mediators to check for signs of domestic abuse before starting mediation.
Says that mediators cannot do mediation unless the alleged victim says it's okay and the mediator is trained on how to handle domestic abuse safely.
Gives victims a right to have someone support them during mediation if they want one.

Who It Names or Affects

People involved in paternity or divorce cases who claim domestic abuse
Mediators working with families going through these legal processes

Terms To Know

mediation: A way to solve problems by talking and finding a solution together, often used in family law cases.
domestic abuse: When someone hurts or threatens another person they live with or have a close relationship with.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not affect rights and duties that existed before it was passed.
It is unclear when the bill will actually be approved and put into use.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment adds a new section to Hawaii Revised Statutes that exempts parties from mediation in paternity proceedings if there are allegations of domestic abuse, and clarifies similar exemptions in divorce proceedings.

Adds a new section to Chapter 584 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to exempt parties from mediation in paternity cases when there are allegations of domestic abuse.
Clarifies that mediators must screen for domestic abuse before proceeding with mediation and can only proceed if certain conditions, such as specialized training and safety measures, are met.
Updates Section 580-41.5 to align the language regarding exemptions from mediation in divorce proceedings with the new section added to Chapter 584.

The amendment specifies that it will take effect on July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.
Some parts of the text are bracketed for removal or underscored as new additions, but these formatting details do not affect the summary.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment adds an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings when there are allegations of domestic abuse, and clarifies similar exemptions in divorce proceedings.

Adds a new section to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 584 to exempt parties alleging domestic abuse from mandatory mediation in paternity cases.
Amends Section 580-41.5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to clarify that alleged victims of domestic abuse are not required to participate in mediation against their wishes in divorce proceedings.
Requires mediators to screen for and respond appropriately to allegations of domestic abuse, ensuring safety measures are in place if mediation is authorized.

The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.
Details on how mediators will be trained to handle domestic abuse cases are not provided in the text.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to HHS, JDC.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 349).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1070) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-12 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-12 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 521) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-02-11 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2025-02-06 H
Bill re-scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-11-25 9:45AM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-11-25 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-22 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO FAMILY.
Paternity Proceedings; Divorce Proceedings; Domestic Abuse; Mediation
Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1283

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1283

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO FAMILY
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 584, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�584-
�
Domestic abuse; exemption from mediation
in paternity proceedings.
�
(a)
�

In contested paternity proceedings where there are allegations of
domestic abuse, the court shall not require a party alleging the domestic abuse
to participate in any component of any mediation program against the wishes of
that party.

����
(b)
�
A mediator who receives a
referral or order from a court to conduct mediation shall screen for the
occurrence of domestic abuse between the parties.
�
A mediator shall not engage in mediation when
it appears to the mediator, or when either party asserts, that domestic abuse
has occurred, unless:

����
(1)
�
Mediation is authorized by the
alleged victim of the domestic abuse;

����
(2)
�
Mediation is provided, in a
specialized manner that protects the safety of the alleged victim, by a
mediator who is trained in the field of domestic abuse; and

����
(3)
�
The alleged victim may have in
attendance at mediation a supporting person of the alleged victim's choice,
including but not limited to an attorney or advocate.
�
If the alleged victim chooses to exercise this
option, any other party to the mediation may have in attendance at mediation a
supporting person of that party's choice, including but not limited to an
attorney or advocate.

����
(c)
�
The court shall not require a
party alleging domestic abuse to participate in any component of any mediation
program against the wishes of that party if a temporary restraining order or a
protective order is in effect with regard to the parties.

����
(d)
�
If a party has alleged
domestic abuse and a temporary restraining order or a protective order is not
in effect with regard to the parties, the court may order mediation or refer
either party to mediation only if:

����
(1)
�
Mediation is authorized by the
alleged victim of the domestic abuse;

����
(2)
�
Mediation is provided, in a
specialized manner that protects the safety of the alleged victim, by a
mediator who is trained in the field of domestic abuse; and

����
(3)
�
The alleged victim may have in
attendance at mediation a supporting person of the alleged victim's choice,
including but not limited to an attorney or advocate. If the alleged victim
chooses to exercise this option, any other party to the mediation may have in
attendance at mediation a supporting person of that party's choice, including
but not limited to an attorney or advocate.

����
(e)
�
As used in this section,
"domestic abuse" has the same meaning as in section 586-1.
"

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 580-41.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�580-41.5
�

[
Battered spouses;
]
Domestic abuse;
exemption from
mediation in divorce proceedings.
�

(a)
�
In contested divorce
proceedings where there are allegations of [
spousal
]
domestic

abuse, the court shall not require a party alleging the [
spousal
]
domestic

abuse to participate in any component of any mediation program against the
wishes of that party.

����
(b)
�
A mediator who receives a referral or order
from a court to conduct mediation shall screen for the occurrence of [
family
violence
]
domestic abuse
between the parties.
�
A mediator shall not engage in mediation when
it appears to the mediator
,
or when either party asserts
,
that [
family
violence
]
domestic abuse
has occurred
,
unless:

����
(1)
�
Mediation is authorized by the
alleged

victim of the [
alleged family violence;
]
domestic abuse;

����
(2)
�
Mediation is provided
,
in a specialized
manner that protects the safety of the
alleged
victim
,
by a
mediator who is trained in [
family violence;
]
the field of domestic
abuse;
and

����
(3)
�
The
alleged
victim [
is permitted to
]

may
have in attendance at mediation[
,
] a supporting person of the

alleged
victim's choice
,
including but not limited to an attorney
or advocate.
�
If the
alleged

victim chooses to exercise [
such
]
this
option, any other party to
the mediation [
will be permitted to
]
may
have in attendance at
mediation[
,
] a supporting person of [
the
]
that
party's
choice
,
including but not limited to an attorney or advocate.

����
(c)
�
In a proceeding concerning the custody or
visitation of a child, if a
temporary restraining order or a
protective
order is in effect[
,
]
with regard to the parties,
the court shall
not require a party alleging [
family violence
]
domestic abuse
to
participate in any component of any mediation program against the wishes of
that party.

����
(d)
�
In a proceeding concerning the custody or
visitation of a child, if [
there is an allegation of family violence
]
a
party has alleged domestic abuse
and a
temporary restraining order or a

protective order is not in effect[
,
]
with regard to the parties,

the court may order mediation or refer either party to mediation only if:

����
(1)
�
Mediation is authorized by the
alleged

victim of the [
alleged family violence;
]
domestic abuse;

����
(2)
�
Mediation is provided
,
in a specialized
manner that protects the safety of the
alleged
victim
,
by a
mediator who is trained in [
family violence;
]
the field of domestic
abuse;
and

����
(3)
�
The
alleged
victim [
is permitted to
]

may
have in attendance at mediation[
,
] a supporting person of the

alleged
victim's choice
,
including but not limited to an attorney
or advocate.
�
If the
alleged

victim chooses to exercise [
such
]
this
option, any other party to
the mediation [
will be permitted to
]
may
have in attendance at
mediation[
,
] a supporting person of [
the
]
that
party's
choice
,
including but not limited to an attorney or advocate.

����
(e)
�
As used in this section, "domestic
abuse" has the same meaning as in section 586-1.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

����
SECTION
4.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Paternity
Proceedings; Divorce Proceedings; Domestic Abuse; Mediation

Description:

Establishes
an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are
allegations of domestic abuse.
�
Clarifies
the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic
abuse.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.