# Hawaii HB 609: RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING.

Hawaii HB 609, RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Kanani Souza (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB609-2026
- 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 609
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Kanani Souza (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: DOE, DHS, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Sex Trafficking, Prevention and Response, Appropriation, HSH/EDN, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the posting of informational placards on sex trafficking and resources available to victims, in public buildings and at other specified locations. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and make available a model placard. Requires the Department of Education to train teachers, school administrators, and other school personnel on the dynamics of sex trafficking and strategies for prevention and response. Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of the Attorney General to develop and implement public education and outreach events on the dynamics of sex trafficking and the importance of community involvement in prevention and response efforts.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kanani Souza (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Elle Cochran (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tyson K. Miyake (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House

## Actions (4)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HSH/EDN, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB609_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB609_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB609_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB609_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB609-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).