# Hawaii SB 281: RELATING TO TORTURE.

Hawaii SB 281, RELATING TO TORTURE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-30 (Act 147, 05/30/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB281-2025
- 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 281
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO TORTURE.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-14
- Last action: 2025-05-30, Act 147, 05/30/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247).
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Criminal Offenses, Penal Code, Torture, Prohibition, HSH, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (202 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Defines and prohibits the offense of torture. Makes torture a class A felony. (CD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-23 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 2 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-23 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-08 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-02 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA... | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-05 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (43)

- 2025-05-30: Act 147, 05/30/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247). (Senate)
- 2025-05-30: Act 147, on 05/30/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1247). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-02: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). (House)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 27). (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 27) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-24: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-23: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799). (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Tarnas, Olds, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-04-22: House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Olds, Garcia. (House)
- 2025-04-22: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 4:00PM; Conference Room 325. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Gabbard, Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 851). (House)
- 2025-04-10: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 635). (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 779). (House)
- 2025-04-08: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-04: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2034) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-04: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-08-25. (House)
- 2025-04-02: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-28: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 04-02-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1208) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-03-13: 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, Holt, Ward, Woodson excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-11-25 10:00AM 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: 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. 120) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 814) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Re-Referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HHS, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1247_.PDF)
- SB281_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_CD1_.HTM)
- SB281_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_HD1_.HTM)
- SB281_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_HD2_.HTM)
- SB281_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_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/SB281_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1247_.PDF)
- [SB281_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB281_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB281_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_HD2_.HTM)
- [SB281_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB281_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)
- [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-SB281-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).