Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 3294: RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.
Passed both chambers Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 3294 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 30, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT. Primary sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Stanley Chang (Democratic), Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), KIDANI, Joy San Buenaventura (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (April 20, 2026): House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Belatti, Kusch Co-Chairs; Iwamoto, Poepoe, Garcia.
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.
Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of a person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay, through a warrant for payment issued by the Comptroller, 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 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to immediately notify the Department of Human Services so the Department of Human Services may 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 persons 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 4
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Rhoads | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 13 |
| Stanley Chang | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 9 |
| Carol Fukunaga | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 11 |
| KIDANI | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Joy San Buenaventura | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 2 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Belatti, Kusch Co-Chairs; Iwamoto, Poepoe, Garcia.
- Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
- Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 774).
- Senate disagrees with House amendments.
- Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
- Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
- Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2161-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
- Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1480-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
- Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
- The 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; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
Showing 12 most recent of 35 actions. Full history