# Hawaii SB 1618: RELATING TO JOURNALISM.

Hawaii SB 1618, RELATING TO JOURNALISM., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic); status first reading, last action 2025-01-27 (Passed First Reading.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1618-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1618
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO JOURNALISM.
- Status: first reading
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-23
- Last action: 2025-01-27, Passed First Reading.
- Sponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: DCCA, BOR, Journalistic Ethics Commission, Journalistic Ethics Review Board, College of Social Sciences, Journalism, Public Reporting, Dispute Resolution, Complaint, Ethics, Reports, Penalties, CPN/HRE, JDC/WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Commission within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes a Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires news media outlets to provide training in the ethics of journalism to journalists and editors in their employ. Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Review Board to be administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Review Board to handle complaints and appeals regarding violations of the Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes penalties for violations. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to conduct an analysis of the journalism program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences. Requires the Board of Regents to report to the Legislature.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA
- Cosponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2025-01-27: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to CPN/HRE, JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1618_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1618_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1618_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1618_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [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)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [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)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1618-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).