KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Hawaii

HB2252 • 2026

RELATING TO THEFT.

RELATING TO THEFT.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action
2026-01-30
Official status
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 5
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact date when this bill might take effect is not specified in the provided sources.

Law to Require Minimum Jail Time for Major Theft

This bill requires that anyone convicted of stealing property worth more than $250,000 must spend at least one year in jail.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule saying people who steal things worth over $250,000 will get a minimum sentence of twelve months in prison.
  • This applies whether the person is given an indeterminate term or probation with conditions.
  • The law allows for other punishments like paying back what was stolen (restitution) or fines to be added along with jail time.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are convicted of stealing property worth over $250,000 will face this new rule.
  • Courts and judges dealing with theft cases involving large amounts of money will have to follow these rules.

Terms To Know

indeterminate term
A sentence where the exact length is not set, but there are minimum requirements.
restitution
Money or other compensation paid to a victim by someone who has caused them harm or loss.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change how theft cases under $250,000 are handled.
  • It is unclear if this law will be passed and become active.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-30 H

    Referred to JHA, referral sheet 5

  2. 2026-01-28 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-26 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THEFT.
Penal Code; Theft in the First Degree; Penalty
Requires a mandatory twelve-month minimum sentence of incarceration for a conviction of theft in the first degree when the value of the property or services stolen exceeds $250,000, whether imposed as a mandatory minimum sentence for an indeterminate term of imprisonment or as a condition of probation, in addition to any other authorized disposition such as restitution or a fine.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2252

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2252

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO THEFT
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The purpose of this Act is to
require a mandatory
twelve-month minimum sentence of incarceration for a conviction of theft in the
first degree when the value of the property or services stolen exceeds
$250,000, whether imposed as a mandatory minimum sentence for an indeterminate
term of imprisonment or as a condition of probation, in addition to any other
authorized disposition such as restitution or a fine.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Section 708-830.5, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
708-830.5

�
Theft in the first degree.
�
(1)
�
A
person commits the offense of theft in the first degree if the person commits
theft of:

����
(a)
�
Property or services, the value of
which exceeds $20,000;

����
(b)
�
A firearm;

����
(c)
�
Dynamite or other explosive;

����
(d)
�
Property or services during an
emergency period proclaimed by the governor or mayor pursuant to chapter 127A,
within the area covered by the emergency or disaster under chapter 127A, the
value of which exceeds $300;

����
(e)
�
Property from the person of another who
is sixty years of age or older and the age of the property owner is known or
reasonably should be known to the person who commits theft;

����
(f)
�
Property or services, the value of
which exceeds $750, from a person who is sixty years of age or older and the
age of the property owner is known or reasonably should be known to the person
who commits theft; or

����
(g)
�
A motor vehicle or motorcycle as
defined in section 291C-1.

����
(2)
�
Theft in the first degree [
is
]
shall
be
a class B felony.

����
(3)
�
In addition to any other authorized
disposition, for a conviction under this section where the value of the
property or services exceeds $250,000, the sentence shall be either:

����
(a)
�
An indeterminate term of
imprisonment of ten years; provided that the minimum term of imprisonment shall
be not less than twelve months; or

����
(b)
�
A term of probation or supervision
of four years, a condition of which shall include, but not be limited to, a
mandatory minimum of twelve months of imprisonment.
�
Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, the mandatory period of imprisonment shall not be suspended or
otherwise not imposed.

����
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:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Penal
Code; Theft in the First Degree; Penalty

Description:

Requires
a mandatory twelve-month minimum sentence of incarceration for a conviction of
theft in the first degree when the value of the property or services stolen
exceeds $250,000, whether imposed as a mandatory minimum sentence for an
indeterminate term of imprisonment or as a condition of probation, in addition
to any other authorized disposition such as restitution or a fine.

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