# Hawaii SB 3073: RELATING TO THE RETENTION OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.

Hawaii SB 3073, RELATING TO THE RETENTION OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-25 (Act 150, 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1251).) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB3073-2026
- 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 3073
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE RETENTION OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-26
- Last action: 2026-06-25, Act 150, 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1251).
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Forensic Identification, Biological Evidence, Retention, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (219 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Specifies the types of cases in which evidence must be retained post-conviction and the process by which evidence may be disposed of earlier than the standard period of retention, which includes a procedure for defendants to oppose the disposal of biological evidence by filing an objection with the court. Authorizes the court, upon motion of a defendant or prosecutor or on the court's own motion, to order the retention of biological evidence in any felony case for a certain period under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-05-06 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 51 | 0 |   |
| 2026-05-01 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-23 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-23 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-14 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 51 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-09 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-19 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (41)

- 2026-06-25: Act 150, 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1251). (Senate)
- 2026-06-25: Act 150, on 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1251). (House)
- 2026-05-08: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888). (Senate)
- 2026-05-07: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2026-05-06: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). (House)
- 2026-05-05: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814). (House)
- 2026-05-01: Deferred one day 05-06-26. (House)
- 2026-05-01: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga). (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 14-26). (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26. (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 14-26) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2026-04-29: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26. (House)
- 2026-04-23: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-04-23: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Poepoe, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-04-22: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720). (House)
- 2026-04-22: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-26 2:35PM; Conference Room 325. (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas Chair; Belatti, Poepoe, Shimizu. (House)
- 2026-04-21: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800). (Senate)
- 2026-04-21: Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Gabbard, Awa. (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 738). (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710). (House)
- 2026-04-14: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-04-09: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1978-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-04-09: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). (House)
- 2026-03-19: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama. (House)
- 2026-03-17: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to JHA, referral sheet 17 (House)
- 2026-03-10: Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). 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. 356) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2889) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1). (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: 48 Hrs. Notice 3-10-26. (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: 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)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-24-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Re-Referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to PSM, JDC. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1251_.PDF)
- SB3073_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_CD1_.HTM)
- SB3073_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_HD1_.HTM)
- SB3073_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_SD1_.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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/GM1251_.PDF)
- [SB3073_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB3073_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB3073_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB3073_SD1_.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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [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-SB3073-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).