HB73 • 2026

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES.

Active

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

Sponsor: ILAGAN
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details about enforcement mechanisms or penalties.

Ban on Immigration Detention Facilities on Public Land

This bill stops the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, and other state and county agencies from allowing immigration detention facilities to be built on public land.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural Resources from disposing of or approving the use or setting aside of public lands for any immigration detention facility.
Prevents state and county agencies from contracting with the federal government regarding the establishment of an immigration detention facility on public land.
Stops state and county agencies from processing permits related to establishing an immigration detention facility on public land.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Land and Natural Resources
Board of Land and Natural Resources
State and county agencies

Terms To Know

Immigration Detention Facility: A place where people who are being checked for deportation are kept before their case is decided.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not address what will happen to existing immigration detention facilities on public land.
It's unclear if the ban applies only to new facilities or also affects current ones.
There is no information provided about how this law will be enforced or what consequences there are for breaking it.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 123), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
2025-01-29 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Todd, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2025-01-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 01-29-25 10:00AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to ECD, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-13 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES.
Immigration Detention Facility; Public Land; State and County Agencies; Prohibition
Prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural Resources from disposing of or approving the use or setting aside of public lands for the establishment of any immigration detention facility. Prohibits state and county agencies from contracting with the federal government or processing any permit for this purpose.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB73

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

73

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to immigration detention facilities
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�171-
�
Immigration
detention facility; prohibition.
�
(a)
�

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department and board shall not
dispose of or approve the use or setting aside of public lands for the establishment
of any immigration detention facility.

����
(b)
�
No
state or county agency shall contract with the United States government for any
purpose regarding the establishment of an immigration detention facility on
public lands.

����
(c)
�
No
state or county agency shall process a permit for any purpose regarding the
establishment of an immigration detention facility on public lands.

����
(d)
�
As
used in this section, "immigration detention facility" means a
facility to incarcerate individuals as they undergo deportation proceedings to
determine whether the individuals will be deported or allowed to remain in the
United States.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Immigration
Detention Facility; Public Land; State and County Agencies; Prohibition

Description:

Prohibits
the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural
Resources from disposing of or approving the use or setting aside of public
lands for the establishment of any immigration detention facility.
�
Prohibits state and county agencies from contracting
with the federal government or processing any permit for this purpose.

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