SB2516 • 2026

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

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Sponsor: KOUCHI (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2026-03-12
Official status: Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition Package; Public Safety; Hindering Prosecution; Accomplice Liability; Sanctions; Penalties Establishes a gradient penalty structure for the offense of hindering prosecution in the first degree, based on the level of offense hindered.
(SD1)

Limits and Unknowns

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Amendments

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

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2516 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2516 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2516 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY .

Bill History

2026-03-12 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 251) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3091) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2026-02-24 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-24-26 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.
2026-02-10 S
Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2133) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
2026-02-02 S
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.
2026-01-30 S
The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-02-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to PSM, JDC.
2026-01-23 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition Package; Public Safety; Hindering Prosecution; Accomplice Liability; Sanctions; Penalties
Establishes a gradient penalty structure for the offense of hindering prosecution in the first degree, based on the level of offense hindered. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2516

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2516

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Public Safety
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that there is a
need to hold accountable persons who have assisted offenders after the
commission of serious crimes.
�
Often,
these individuals are subject to limited sanctions for hindering prosecution in
the first degree, a class C felony offense.

����
The
legislature further finds that, under existing law, accomplice liability, which
subjects a person to the same level of penalty as the percipient actor, does
not apply to actions or assistance provided after the offense is committed.
�
Thus, for example, an individual who assists
a mass murderer by providing the offender shelter, food, or transportation
after the commission of the offense would only be subject to a maximum penalty
of a five-year prison term.
�
A person who
provided similar assistance to a person who killed or attempted to kill a
police officer would also be limited to a maximum penalty of a five-year prison
term.

����
The
legislature believes that establishing a structure for more appropriate
penalties, which takes into consideration the scope of the offenses and acts in
question, will promote greater respect for the law, ensure offenders receive an
appropriate sentence that reflects the seriousness of the offense, provide
adequate deterrence for future criminal activity, and better protect the
public.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to establish appropriate sanctions for offenders who
render assistance and hinder the apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or
punishment of another offender.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 710-1029, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

����
"(2)
�
Hindering prosecution in the first degree is [
a
class C felony.
]
an offense one class or grade, as the case may be,
lower than the offense committed by the other person; provided that when the
offense committed by the other person is murder in any degree, hindering
prosecution is a class A felony.
"

����
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:

Hawaii
Law Enforcement Coalition Package; Public Safety; Hindering Prosecution;
Accomplice Liability; Sanctions; Penalties

Description:

Establishes
a gradient penalty structure for the offense of hindering prosecution in the
first degree, based on the level of offense hindered.

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