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HB2227 • 2026

RELATING TO EVICTION RECORDS.

RELATING TO EVICTION RECORDS.

Housing
Active

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

Sponsor
GRANDINETTI, AMATO, BELATTI, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, LA CHICA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, TARNAS
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the impact of the bill post-writ issuance or its effects on tenant screening practices.

Limiting Public Access to Eviction Records

This bill restricts public access to eviction records until a writ of possession is issued.

What This Bill Does

  • Limits the availability of summary possession court records on publicly accessible electronic databases by the Judiciary unless and until a writ of possession has been issued.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Residential tenants who face eviction proceedings.
  • Landlords involved in summary possession actions.
  • Companies engaged in tenant screening and background checks.

Terms To Know

writ of possession
A legal document issued by a court that orders the removal of someone from property when they are no longer entitled to be there.
summary possession proceeding
A quick legal process used in courts to determine if someone has the right to possess or occupy a piece of real estate.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens after a writ of possession is issued.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect tenant screening practices and housing access for those with past eviction filings.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-05 H

    The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

  2. 2026-02-03 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 02-05-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  3. 2026-01-30 H

    Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 5

  4. 2026-01-28 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  5. 2026-01-26 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EVICTION RECORDS.
Judiciary; Summary Possession Proceedings; Eviction Records; Public Access
Limits public access to summary possession records on the Judiciary's publicly accessible electronic databases unless and until a writ of possession is issued.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2227

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2227

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to eviction records
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that evictions are
costly and disruptive for landlords and residential tenants and may also have
severe and long
‑
lasting impacts on residential tenants.
�
Once evicted, tenants are often required to
secure a new residence, incur moving expenses, experience damage to their
credit scores, and bear other financial burdens, including rental application
fees and security deposits, as well as costs incurred by landlords during the
eviction process.

����
The
legislature further finds that the mere filing of an eviction action against a
residential tenant, regardless of merit, can create a long-term barrier to
access to housing.
�
Eviction records are
created at the time a landlord files a complaint with the court, and even when
a landlord does not prevail or withdraws the action, the eviction filing
remains publicly accessible.
�
Companies
engaged in tenant screening collect and sell this information, and landlords
often rely on these records when evaluating rental applicants, typically
without regard to the outcome of the case.
�
As a result, residential tenants may face
housing denials based solely on the filing of an eviction action, which can
also be used as leverage to pressure tenants to vacate a dwelling even when
they have legitimate defenses or disputes.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to reduce unnecessary and harmful barriers to housing
stability by limiting public access to summary possession court records unless
and until a writ of possession is issued.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 604-6,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�604-6
�
Ejectment proceedings.
�
(a)
�

Nothing in section 604-5 shall preclude a district court from taking
jurisdiction in ejectment proceedings where the title to real estate does not
come in question at the trial of the action.

����
(b)
�
If the defendant is defaulted or if on the
trial it is proved that the plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the
premises, the court shall give judgment for the plaintiff and shall issue a
writ of possession.
�
The rules of court
shall govern the stay of a writ of possession.

����
(c)
�
Beginning ,
from the commencement of a summary possession proceeding until such time as a
writ of possession is issued, the court shall not make available on the
judiciary's publicly accessible electronic databases any judiciary files or
other information pertaining to the action.

����
If a writ of possession is issued
in the action, the court shall make available on the judiciary's publicly
accessible electronic databases its files and other information pertaining to
the summary possession proceeding.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Judiciary;
Summary Possession Proceedings; Eviction Records; Public Access

Description:

Limits
public access to summary possession records on the Judiciary's publicly
accessible electronic databases unless and until a writ of possession is
issued.

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