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Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 2479: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

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 2479 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 22, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. Primary sponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (March 24, 2026): The committee(s) on HSH 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.

Allows a defendant to introduce certain evidence to receive a reduced sentence for certain offenses if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced. Allows a defendant to introduce certain relevant evidence when raising the justification defenses of self-defense or defense of others to show that the defendant was subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse by the alleged victim. Allows the circuit court imposing a criminal sentence to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed. Allows a person previously sentenced by a circuit court to petition the court to be re-sentenced to a reduced sentence if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced. (SD2)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Mike GabbardPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate21
Joy San BuenaventuraCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate2

“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 HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
  2. Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  3. Pass First Reading
  4. Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 17
  5. Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
  6. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 248) in amended form (SD 2).
  7. Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3081) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
  8. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
  9. 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, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.
  10. The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
  11. Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2360) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
  12. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

Showing 12 most recent of 18 actions. Full history

Sources

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