ChangeBridge / Hawaii / SB3294 Passed
SB3294 Senate Bill
Passed
2026-03-10

Relating To Wrongful Imprisonment.

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)

Bill Details

State

Hawaii

Session

2026 Regular Session

Chamber

Senate

Committee

Finance

Official Source

www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...

LegiScan

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Sponsors

Karl Rhoads (Sen - D)
Stanley Chang (Sen - D)
Carol Fukunaga (Sen - D)
Michelle Kidani (Sen - D)
Joy San Buenaventura (Sen - D)

Action History

2026-03-30 H 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).
2026-03-30 H Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1480-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-03-25 H 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.
2026-03-20 H Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Wednesday, 03-25-26 10:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-20 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on PBS with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-03-20 H Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1267-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to PBS.
2026-03-18 H The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.
2026-03-16 H Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H Referred to JHA, PBS, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 399) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-03-10 S 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.
2026-03-06 S 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3069) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-03-04 S The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-04 S The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-02 S The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 10:35AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-20 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.
2026-02-20 S Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2686) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
2026-02-19 S The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
2026-02-17 S The committee(s) on GVO deferred the measure until 02-19-26 3:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-13 S The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 02-17-26 3:45PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-02-10 S Re-Referred to GVO, JDC/WAM.
2026-02-02 S Referred to GVO/PSM, JDC/WAM.
2026-01-30 S Passed First Reading.
2026-01-30 S Introduced.

Votes

2026-02-19 Senate Government Operations: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 4 Nay: 0
2026-03-04 Senate Ways and Means: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 13 Nay: 0
2026-03-04 Senate Judiciary: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 5 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-02-02 S Government Operations
2026-02-20 S Judiciary
2026-03-12 H Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
2026-03-20 H Public Safety
2026-03-30 H Finance

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-28 Introduced
2026-02-20 Amended
2026-03-06 Amended
2026-03-19 Amended
2026-03-27 Amended

Subjects

AG DCR Wrongful Conviction and Imprisonment Compensation Annual Report DHS DAGS

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