# Hawaii HB 2494: RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Hawaii HB 2494, RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by David A. Tarnas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-30 (Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3287) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2494-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 2494
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-03-30, Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3287) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Judiciary, Arrests, Warrantless, Citations, Reports, JDC, WAM
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (87 yes, 26 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations, and requires officers to document the justification for the arrests. Amends the circumstances under which officers may issue citations in lieu of arrest. Requires officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain petty misdemeanors and violations, unless public safety or flight risks are present or the alleged offense involves operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant or the abuse of family or household members. Requires the Judiciary to promulgate a standardized citation form and updates the required information for citations. Requires citations be visible on an offender's criminal record. Requires the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit reports. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-24 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 32 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 44 | 5 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 7 | 2 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-03-30: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3287) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-24: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Re-Referred to JDC, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 429). (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to PSM, JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) La Chica, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Chun, Garcia, Gedeon, Hartsfield, Kila, Kitagawa, Kong, Lee, M., Matayoshi, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Olds, Pierick, Shimizu, Takenouchi, Tam, Templo voting no (18) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 917-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-03-05: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with Representative(s) Kila, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Tam voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Pierick voting no (5) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). (House)
- 2026-03-03: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2026-02-27: Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-19: The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2026-02-13: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-02: Referred to JHA, referral sheet 6 (House)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_SD1_.pdf)
- HB2494_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_HD1_.HTM)
- HB2494_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_SD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_SD1_.pdf)
- [HB2494_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_HD1_.HTM)
- [HB2494_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_SD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2494_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2494-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).