HawaiiHB 3962025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)House

RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL.

Sponsored By: Nadine K. Nakamura (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Increases the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel in criminal proceedings. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Judiciary PackageCriminal ProceedingsCourt-Appointed CounselFeesAppropriationsJDC, WAM

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher pay for court-appointed lawyers

The law raises the rate for court-appointed lawyers from $90 to $150 per hour. Maximum fees rise to $12,000 for felony cases, $6,000 for misdemeanor jury trials and other covered proceedings, $3,000 for jury-waived misdemeanors, $1,800 for petty misdemeanors, and $9,000 for appeals. A court can approve pay above a limit when it certifies the extra amount is needed for fair compensation and the administrative judge approves. The state provides $2.89 million in each of fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27 for these changes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Nadine K. Nakamura

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 211 • No: 1

House vote • 4/30/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2025

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....

Yes: 4 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....

Yes: 2 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 23 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/28/2025

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The...

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/13/2025

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 4 • No: 1

House vote • 3/4/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2025

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 2/10/2025

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN...

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 1/30/2025

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act 199, 06/06/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1299).

    6/6/2025Senate
  2. Act 199, on 06/06/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1299).

    6/6/2025House
  3. Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821).

    5/2/2025Senate
  4. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888).

    5/1/2025House
  5. Transmitted to Governor.

    5/1/2025House
  6. Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

    4/30/2025Senate
  7. Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2).

    4/30/2025House
  8. Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 106) as amended in (CD 1).

    4/25/2025House
  9. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.

    4/25/2025House
  10. Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 106).

    4/25/2025Senate
  11. 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25

    4/25/2025Senate
  12. The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Kitagawa, Belatti, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

    4/23/2025House
  13. The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

    4/23/2025Senate
  14. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 2:15PM in conference room 325.

    4/22/2025House
  15. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-22-25 2:05PM in conference room 325.

    4/21/2025House
  16. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-21-25 2:05PM in conference room 325.

    4/17/2025House
  17. Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-17-25 3:46PM in conference room 325.

    4/16/2025House
  18. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).

    4/15/2025Senate
  19. Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Moriwaki Co-Chair; Awa.

    4/15/2025Senate
  20. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 790).

    4/15/2025House
  21. House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Kitagawa Co-Chairs; Belatti, Garcia.

    4/14/2025House
  22. Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 451).

    4/4/2025Senate
  23. House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

    4/3/2025House
  24. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) DeCorte, Ihara). Transmitted to House.

    4/2/2025Senate
  25. Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 474) in amended form (SD 1).

    4/2/2025House

Bill Text

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