# Hawaii SB 1520: RELATING TO FAMILY.

Hawaii SB 1520, RELATING TO FAMILY., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status passed house, last action 2025-04-23 (Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 802).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1520-2025
- 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 1520
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO FAMILY.
- Status: passed house
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-22
- Last action: 2025-04-23, Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 802).
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Paternity Proceedings, Divorce Proceedings, Domestic Abuse, Mediation, HSH, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA

## Actions (30)

- 2025-04-23: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 802). (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; Hashimoto, Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 866). (House)
- 2025-04-22: House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Lamosao, Garcia. (House)
- 2025-04-03: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 448). (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 481). (House)
- 2025-04-02: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1756), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-02: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-03-25: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1436) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5). (House)
- 2025-03-21: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-25-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-20: The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Takenouchi. (House)
- 2025-03-17: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 03-20-25 10:15AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 363) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1044) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: 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, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard. (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 10:01AM; CR 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 497) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to HHS, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_.PDF)
- SB1520_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_HD1_.HTM)
- SB1520_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)
- SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE. (signed)
- SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT. (signed)
- HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_.PDF)
- [SB1520_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB1520_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1520_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1231-2025)
- [SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB935-2025)
- [HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB703-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1520-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).