HB1959 • 2026

RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Crime

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: ICHIYAMA, AMATO, BELATTI, CHUN, GRANDINETTI, HARTSFIELD, HASHEM, HUSSEY, ILAGAN, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, LEE, M., LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MATSUMOTO, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SAYAMA, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TARNAS, TEMPLO, YAMASHITA
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Transmitted to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Judiciary; Domestic Violence; Abuse of Family or Household Member; Deferred Acceptance of Guilty Plea; Penalties; Reports Extends for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021, relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses.
Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Legislature.
Effective 6/29/2026.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: HB1959 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1959 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1959 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB1959 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1959 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1959 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE .

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: HB1959 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1959 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1959 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB1959 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1959 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1959 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-07 H
Transmitted to Governor.
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-29 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
2026-04-29 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 60-26).
2026-04-29 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-04-29 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 60-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-04-28 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Rhoads, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-28 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Tarnas, Olds, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-27 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 2:30PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-27 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 778).
2026-04-27 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; McKelvey.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Olds, Alcos.
2026-04-17 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
2026-04-16 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-14 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 644) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-04-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-10 S
One Day Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-10 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3751) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-07 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-25 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-03-25 S
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3171) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-13 S
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 1:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to HHS, JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 325).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1127-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-25 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.
2026-02-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-18 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 none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 378-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-10 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, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-05 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Judiciary; Domestic Violence; Abuse of Family or Household Member; Deferred Acceptance of Guilty Plea; Penalties; Reports
Extends for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021, relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses. Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Legislature. Effective 6/29/2026. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1959

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1959

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to domestic violence
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Act 19, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, is
amended by amending section 15 to read as follows:

����
"
SECTION 15.
�
This Act shall take effect on January 1,
2021; provided that [
sections
]
:

����
(1)
�
Sections
2[
,
3,
] and 4 shall be repealed on June 30, 2026; provided further that
sections 706-623[
, 709‑906,
] and 853‑4, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which they read on the day prior to
the effective date of this Act[
.
]
; and

����
(2)
�
Section 3 shall
be repealed on June 30, 2031; provided further that section 709-906, Hawaii
Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day
prior to the effective date of this Act.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
Act 238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, is
amended by amending section 4 to read as follows:

����
"SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
provided that section 1 shall be repealed on June 30, [
2026;
]
2031;

provided further that section 709-906, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be
reenacted in the form in which it read on December 31, 2020."

����
SECTION 3.
�
Act 23, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, as
amended by section 15 of Act 178, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, is amended by
amending section 7 to read as follows:

����
"SECTION 7.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
provided that the amendments made to section 709-906, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
by section 4 of this Act shall not be repealed when that section is reenacted
on June 30, [
2026,
]
2031,
pursuant to:

����
(1)
�
Section 15 of Act
19, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020; and

����
(2)
�
Section 4 of Act
238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021."

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

����
SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect on June 29, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Domestic
Violence; Abuse of Family or Household Member; Penalties

Description:

Extends
for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021,
relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a
petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying
penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for
misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members
offenses.
�
Effective 6/29/2026.

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