HB1798 • 2026

RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.

Crime

Active

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

Sponsor: ILAGAN, GEDEON, HUSSEY, KILA, KUSCH, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MATSUMOTO, OLDS, PIERICK, REYES ODA, SAYAMA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA
Last action: 2026-02-17
Official status: 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, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and text do not provide details on the exact penalties for class C felonies, only that it is a felony offense.

Rules About Damaging Important Facilities

This bill makes it a felony to damage certain critical infrastructure facilities, including broadband networks.

What This Bill Does

Establishes criminal property damage of critical infrastructure facilities as a class C felony offense.
Expands the definition of 'critical infrastructure' to include broadband and cable television networks.

Who It Names or Affects

People who intentionally or knowingly damage critical infrastructure facilities will face legal consequences.
Facility owners and operators whose properties are protected under this law.

Terms To Know

Critical Infrastructure: Systems or assets that are vital to the security, economic stability, public health, safety, or any combination thereof of a state or nation.
Class C Felony: A serious criminal offense with significant penalties.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not affect rights and duties that matured before its effective date.
It is unclear how this law will be enforced or what specific measures will be taken to protect these facilities from damage.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment creates a new felony offense for damaging critical infrastructure facilities without permission, defines what qualifies as critical infrastructure to include broadband networks, and sets the law to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Adds a new section in Chapter 708 of Hawaii Revised Statutes that makes it a felony to damage any critical infrastructure facility without permission.
Expands the definition of 'critical infrastructure' to include broadband networks.
Specifies that the law will take effect on July 1, 3000.

The future effective date (July 1, 3000) is unusually far in the future and may not be intended as a real implementation date.

Bill History

2026-02-17 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, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).
2026-02-17 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 292-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Holt.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 02-04-26 11:00AM in conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
The committee(s) on ECD recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2026-01-26 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 01-30-26 10:00AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to ECD, JHA, referral sheet 1
2026-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-22 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.
Offenses Against Property Rights; Criminal Property Damage of Critical Infrastructure Facilities; Felony
Establishes the class C felony offense of criminal property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. Expands the term "critical infrastructure" to include broadband, wireless, and cable networks. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1798

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1798

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
FACILITIES
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 708,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be
appropriately designated and to read as follows:

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"
�708-
�
Criminal property damage of a critical
infrastructure facility.

�
(1)
�
A person commits the offense of criminal
property damage of a critical infrastructure facility if the person
intentionally or knowingly damages any critical infrastructure facility without
the owner or operator's consent.

����
(2)
�

Criminal property damage of a critical infrastructure facility is a
class C felony.
�

����
(3)
�

For the purposes of this section, "critical infrastructure
facility" has the same meaning as "critical infrastructure"
defined in section 708-890.
"

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 708-890, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending the definition of "critical infrastructure" to
read as follows:

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"
"
Critical infrastructure" means publicly
or privately owned or operated systems or assets vital to the defense,
security, economic security, public health or safety, or any combination
thereof, of the State or nation.
�
"Critical
infrastructure" includes:

����
(1)
�
Gas
and oil production, storage, and delivery systems;

����
(2)
�
Water
supply systems;

����
(3)
�
Telecommunications

networks;

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(4)
�
Electrical

power delivery systems;

����
(5)
�
Finance
and banking
systems;

����
(6)
�
Emergency
services, such
as medical, police, fire, and rescue services;

����
(7)
�
Transportation

systems and services, such as highways, mass transit, airlines, and airports; [
and
]

����
(8)
�
Government

operations that provide essential services to the public[
.
]
; and

����
(9)
�
Broadband and cable television networks.
"

����
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.

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SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Offenses
Against Property Rights; Criminal Property Damage of Critical Infrastructure
Facilities; Felony

Description:

Establishes
the offense of criminal property damage to critical infrastructure facilities as
a class C felony.
�
Expands the term "critical
infrastructure" to include broadband and cable networks.

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