# Hawaii SB 116: RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Hawaii SB 116, RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Act 259, 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1362).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB116-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 116
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-09
- Last action: 2025-07-01, Act 259, 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1362).
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: DLE, Discriminatory Reporting, Protected Class, Law Enforcement Officer, Civil Remedy, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (154 yes, 12 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Establishes provisions relating to civil remedies for discriminatory reporting to a law enforcement officer. Provides that any person who causes a law enforcement officer to contact a person on the basis of the person's actual or perceived protected class with the intent to discriminate against the person shall be civilly liable. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement, in consultation with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, to provide guidance to the public on the enactment of this Act. For purpose and intent of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission law, adding "place of birth" as a protected class. Effective 9/1/2025. (HD1)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- People can sue over biased police reports: benefit, low. Starting September 1, 2025, an injured person can sue when someone knowingly causes police to contact them because of a protected trait and with a listed harmful intent. These intents include violating constitutional rights, discrimination, harassment or humiliation, forcing someone to leave a plac…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: C.
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris Lee (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-21 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 2 |   |
| 2025-04-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 44 | 4 |   |
| 2025-04-02 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 47 | 3 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 2 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | Senate | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (34)

- 2025-07-01: Act 259, 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1362). (Senate)
- 2025-07-01: Act 259, on 07/01/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1362). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of reconsideration and Senate agreement (Sen. Com. No. 832). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 845). (House)
- 2025-04-21: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Reconsideration of action taken on 04-08-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Reading on 04-21-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: One Day Notice 04-21-25 (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 571). (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Pierick voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela, Marten excused (3). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1749) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with Representative(s) Matsumoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-11-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Re-referred to JHA, referral sheet 20 (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Fevella). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 88) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 733) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 02-12-25 9:50AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-11-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 36) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 01-24-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Referred to PSM, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-09: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1362_.PDF)
- SB116_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_HD1_.HTM)
- SB116_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_SD1_.HTM)
- SB116_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_SD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- HB 613: RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1362_.PDF)
- [SB116_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB116_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB116_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB116_SD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [HB 613: RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB613-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB116-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).