HB669 • 2026

RELATING TO NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

Crime

Active

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

Sponsor: KILA, HOLT, LAMOSAO, OLDS, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TAM
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on whether the bill affects existing laws regarding fireworks or drug offenses, so this claim was removed.

Rules for Punishing Places Used for Illegal Gambling

This bill requires courts to impose a $5,000 fine per violation for property owners who allow illegal gambling on their property and gives citizens the same rights as crime victims when they sue places used for illegal gambling.

What This Bill Does

Requires courts to impose a mandatory fine of $5,000 for each violation related to nuisance abatement laws concerning gambling offenses.
Gives people who bring civil nuisance abatement suits against places used for illegal gambling the same rights and protections as those afforded to victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Who It Names or Affects

Property owners who allow illegal gambling activities on their property
People who bring civil nuisance abatement suits against places used for illegal gambling

Terms To Know

Nuisance Abatement: A legal process to stop ongoing problems that disturb the peace or harm public health and safety.
Mandatory Fine: A fixed amount of money a court must order someone to pay as punishment for breaking a law.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the property owner cannot afford the fine.
It is unclear how this will affect existing cases before the new rules are in place.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO NUISANCE ABATEMENT.
Nuisance Abatement; Gambling Offenses; Mandatory Fine
Requires the court to impose a mandatory fine per violation for nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses. Allows citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits against places used for illegal gambling the same rights and protections as those afforded to victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB669

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

669

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to nuisance abatement
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that law enforcement
has often used nuisance abatement laws to hold owners and landlords accountable
for allowing known criminal activities to occur on their real property.
�
However, the nuisance abatement law currently
does not give citizens who bring suit against a place used for illegal gambling
the same rights and protections of victims of crime, and it does not provide
the same rights and protections provided to citizens who bring suit against a
place used for fireworks related offenses or drug offenses.
�
Further, the financial penalties for property
owners are minimal and discretionary, providing little incentive for property
owners to make sincere efforts to prevent illegal gambling activity on their
property.

����
The purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Impose a mandatory fine of $5,000 per
violation for nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses; and

����
(2)
�
Authorize citizens who bring civil nuisance
abatement suits against places used for illegal gambling the same rights and
protections as those afforded to victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 712, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and to
read as follows:

����
"
�712-
�
Fines;
gambling.
�
In addition to any other penalty that may be
imposed for a violation of part III of this chapter, the court shall impose a
mandatory fine of $5,000 per violation upon any property owner found to have
violated nuisance abatement laws under part V of this chapter related to
gambling offenses.
"

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section
712-1270.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�712-1270.3
�
Citizen's
rights.
�
Any citizen who brings a
nuisance abatement suit against a place used for the purpose of committing:

����
(1)
�
Fireworks related
offenses contained in section 132D-14(a)(1) or (3); [
or
]

����
(2)
�
Drug offenses
under part IV of this chapter or who files a complaint with the local police or
drug nuisance abatement unit of the department of the attorney general[
,
]
;
or

����
(3)
�
Gambling
offenses under part III of this chapter,

shall be entitled to the same rights and protections
of victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings in accordance with chapter
801D."

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

����
SECTION 5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 6.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Nuisance
Abatement; Gambling Offenses; Mandatory Fine

Description:

Requires
the court to impose a mandatory fine per violation for nuisance abatement laws
related to gambling offenses.
�
Allows
citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits against places used for
illegal gambling the same rights and protections as those afforded to
victims
and witnesses in criminal proceedings
.

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