HB 2493: RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of an individual's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Comptroller to issue a warrant for payment of advance compensation to a petitioner. Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to contract with a community-based agency to assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for individuals whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 20, 2026Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 602-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2. February 20, 2026Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Pierick voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
3. February 18, 2026The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
4. February 13, 2026Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Wednesday, 02-18-26 10:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
5. February 12, 2026Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 235-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to PBS.
6. February 12, 2026Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on PBS with Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Pierick voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
7. February 10, 2026The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
8. February 6, 2026Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-10-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
9. February 2, 2026Referred to JHA, PBS, FIN, referral sheet 6
10. January 28, 2026Introduced and Pass First Reading.