HB560 • 2026

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: CHUN, EVSLIN, GRANDINETTI, HOLT, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MIYAKE, PERRUSO, POEPOE, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TODD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effectiveness depends on proper implementation by the Judiciary, which is not specified in the official source material.

Funding for Community-Based Legal Services

This bill provides funding to the Hawaii Judiciary for services from community-based organizations that help vulnerable people access legal aid, mediation, case management, and behavioral health support.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Judiciary for services contracted with community-based organizations.

Who It Names or Affects

Vulnerable populations such as low-income individuals and families in crisis.
Community-based organizations that provide legal services and support.
The Hawaii Judiciary.

Terms To Know

community-based organizations: Groups in the community that offer help and support to people, especially those who are vulnerable or need extra assistance.
vulnerable households: Families or individuals who face challenges like poverty, health issues, or family crises and may struggle to access necessary services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding.
It is unclear how many community-based organizations will receive support from this funding.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment provides funding to the Hawaii judiciary for services from community-based organizations that help vulnerable populations.

Appropriates funds from general state revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support essential legal services, streamline judicial processes, and assist vulnerable households through community-based organizations.

The exact amount of funding is not specified in the amendment text.
The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect or symbolic, as it does not align with typical legislative timelines.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment provides funding to the judiciary for services from community-based organizations that help vulnerable populations.

Appropriates funds from general revenues to support services provided by community-based organizations in fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

The exact amount of funding is not specified.
The amendment's effective date (April 23, 2057) seems unusually far in the future and may be a placeholder or error.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-03-19 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1143) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-03-14 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-13 S
The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 03-14-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2025-03-07 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to JDC, WAM.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 256).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1139), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-25 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Kusch, Reyes Oda, Ward.
2025-02-21 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 02-25-25 12:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-14 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 724) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-02-07 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran, Todd.
2025-02-04 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Friday, 02-07-25 2:05PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.
Judiciary; Community-Based Organizations; Appropriations ($)
Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to support services contracted with community-based organizations that deliver essential services, streamline judicial processes, and support the judiciary's capacity to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable households. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB560

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

560

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the judiciary
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that access to justice
is a cornerstone of a fair and equitable society.
�
However, many Hawaii residents face
significant barriers in navigating the legal system.
�
Vulnerable populations, including low-income
individuals, families in crisis, and persons with behavioral health needs, are
particularly impacted by a lack of resources.

����
The
legislature further finds that community-based organizations play a vital role
in delivering essential services that strengthen access to justice, including
legal aid, mediation, case management, and behavioral interventions.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to provide increased funding for the judiciary for
services contracted with community-based organizations that deliver essential
services, streamline judicial processes, and support the judiciary's capacity
to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable households.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for services
contracted with community-based organizations that deliver essential services,
streamline judicial processes, and support the judiciary's capacity to
effectively meet the needs of vulnerable households.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
judiciary for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Judiciary;
Community-based Organizations; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds to the judiciary for services contracted with community-based
organizations
that deliver essential services, streamline judicial
processes, and support the judiciary's capacity to effectively meet the needs
of vulnerable households
.

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