# Hawaii SB 2479: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

Hawaii SB 2479, RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Mike Gabbard (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-24 (The committee(s) on HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2479-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 2479
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-03-24, The committee(s) on HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
- Sponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Family Violence, Dating Violence, Child Abuse, Criminal Procedure, Sentencing, Reduced Sentence, Evidence, HSH, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (32 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Allows a defendant to introduce certain evidence to receive a reduced sentence for certain offenses if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced. Allows a defendant to introduce certain relevant evidence when raising the justification defenses of self-defense or defense of others to show that the defendant was subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse by the alleged victim. Allows the circuit court imposing a criminal sentence to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed. Allows a person previously sentenced by a circuit court to petition the court to be re-sentenced to a reduced sentence if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced. (SD2)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-03-24: The committee(s) on HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 17 (House)
- 2026-03-10: Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 248) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3081) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26. (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: 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, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang. (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2360) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha. (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: The committee(s) on HHS deferred the measure until 02-06-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Referred to HHS, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_SD2_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_.PDF)
- SB2479_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_SD1_.HTM)
- SB2479_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_SD2_.HTM)

## 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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_SD2_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_.PDF)
- [SB2479_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB2479_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2479_SD2_.HTM)

## 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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2479-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).