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Hawaii · 2025 Regular Session · Bill

SB 117: RELATING TO DEFAMATION.

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 117 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 9, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO DEFAMATION. Primary sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Stanley Chang (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (March 11, 2025): The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

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

Protects individuals who make claims of sexual misconduct from defamation lawsuits unless the claims were proven to be made with malice. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Karl RhoadsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9

“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. The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
  2. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-11-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  3. Pass First Reading
  4. Referred to JHA, referral sheet 19
  5. Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Keohokalole, Kim, McKelvey, Richards, San Buenaventura . Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
  6. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 89) in amended form (SD 1).
  7. Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 711) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
  8. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).
  9. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.
  10. 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, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
  11. The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
  12. Referred to JDC.

Showing 12 most recent of 14 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source