All Roll Calls
Yes: 163 • No: 1
HawaiiSB 32942025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)Senate
RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.
Sponsored By: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
Passed
Summary
Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of a person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay, through a warrant for payment issued by the Comptroller, advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to immediately notify the Department of Human Services so the Department of Human Services may assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for persons whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
DAGSDCRDHSWrongful Conviction and ImprisonmentCompensationAnnual ReportJHA, PBS, FIN
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Karl Rhoads
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Stanley Chang
Democratic • Senate
Carol Fukunaga
Democratic • Senate
Michelle N. Kidani
Democratic • Senate
Joy A. San Buenaventura
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/14/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 51 • No: 0
House vote • 4/7/2026
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 16 • No: 0
House vote • 3/20/2026
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on PBS...
Yes: 49 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/10/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2026
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Belatti, Kusch Co-Chairs; Iwamoto, Poepoe, Garcia.
4/20/2026HouseReceived notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
4/20/2026SenateReceived from House (Hse. Com. No. 774).
4/16/2026SenateSenate disagrees with House amendments.
4/16/2026SenateReceived notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
4/16/2026HousePassed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
4/14/2026HouseReported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2161-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
4/10/2026HouseThe committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
4/7/2026HouseBill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
4/2/2026HouseReported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1480-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
3/30/2026HouseReport adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
3/30/2026HouseThe committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
3/25/2026HouseReported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1267-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to PBS.
3/20/2026HousePassed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on PBS with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
3/20/2026HouseBill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Wednesday, 03-25-26 10:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
3/20/2026HouseThe committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.
3/18/2026HouseBill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
3/16/2026HousePass First Reading
3/12/2026HouseReferred to JHA, PBS, FIN, referral sheet 17
3/12/2026HouseReport adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
3/10/2026SenateReceived from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 399) in amended form (SD 2).
3/10/2026HouseReported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3069) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
3/6/2026Senate48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
3/6/2026SenateThe 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.
3/4/2026SenateThe committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
3/4/2026Senate
Bill Text
Bill Text
Original
SB3294_HD1
SB3294_HD2
SB3294_SD1
SB3294_SD2
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