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SB2518 • 2026

RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

Active

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

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 ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
  • Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition Package; Law Enforcement Officers; Assault; Penalties Includes recklessly causing serious or substantial bodily injury to a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of duty as the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree.
  • Increases penalties for the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree.
  • Effective 3/22/2075.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

SD1

1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2518 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

  • SB2518 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
  • NO.
  • 2518 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
  • 1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS .

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-12 H

    Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17

  2. 2026-03-12 H

    Pass First Reading

  3. 2026-03-10 H

    Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 253) in amended form (SD 1).

  4. 2026-03-10 S

    Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

  5. 2026-03-05 S

    48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.

  6. 2026-03-05 S

    Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2784) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).

  7. 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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

  8. 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.

  9. 2026-02-10 S

    Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.

  10. 2026-02-10 S

    Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2126) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

  11. 2026-02-02 S

    The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

  12. 2026-01-30 S

    The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-02-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  13. 2026-01-28 S

    Referred to PSM, JDC.

  14. 2026-01-23 S

    Passed First Reading.

  15. 2026-01-23 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition Package; Law Enforcement Officers; Assault; Penalties
Includes recklessly causing serious or substantial bodily injury to a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of duty as the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree. Increases penalties for the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB2518

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2518

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that nationwide
data demonstrate an increase in the number of law enforcement officers killed
and assaulted.
�
Local police officers are
facing serious dangers in their daily work.
�

Furthermore, recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers is a
significant and growing concern across our state and nation.
�
The frequency of assaults against law
enforcement officers discourages applicants from joining the force and makes it
difficult to retain senior officers.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to establish appropriate sanctions, distinguish
penalties based on the level of the bodily injury sustained by the officer, and
deter future crimes for the offense of assault against a law enforcement
officer in the first degree.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 707-712.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�707-712.5
�

Assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree.
�
(1)
�
A
person commits the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the
first degree if the person:

����
(a)
�
Intentionally or knowingly causes bodily
injury to a law enforcement officer who is engaged in the performance of duty; [
or
]

����
(b)
�
Recklessly or negligently causes, with a
dangerous instrument, bodily injury to a law enforcement officer who is engaged
in the performance of duty[
.
]
; or

����
(c)
�
Recklessly causes serious or substantial
bodily injury to a law enforcement officer who is engaged in the performance of
duty.

����
(2)
�
Assault of a law enforcement officer in the
first degree is a class C felony.
�
The
court shall, at a minimum, sentence the person who has been convicted of this
offense to:

����
(a)
�
An indeterminate term of imprisonment of five
years, pursuant to section 706-660; or

����
(b)
�
Five years probation, with conditions to
include a term of imprisonment of not less than [
thirty days
]
six
months
without possibility of suspension of sentence[
.
]
; provided
that a person convicted under subsection (1)(c) shall be subject to a term of
imprisonment of not less than one year without possibility of suspension of sentence.
"

����
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; Law Enforcement Officers; Assault; Penalties

Description:

Establishes
appropriate sanctions for the offense of assault against a law enforcement
officer in the first degree.

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