The Hawaii State Legislature convenes on the third Wednesday in January of each year and continues for 60 session days, which excludes weekends, holidays, and recess days — usually ending in late April or early May. The legislature is part-time and operates with a biennial legislative session, the first year of which starts on odd numbered years. This means that in 202, the legislature could pass bill that was introduced in 2021. The legislature consists of a House of Representatives and a Senate.
The ACLU of Hawaiʻi works year-round to protect the constitutional rights and civil liberties of all. During the legislative session, we collaborate with ACLU supporters, other organizations, impacted communities, and lawmakers to draft bills, lobby legislators, testify in support of bills, seek support from other groups, draft fact sheets, and conduct outreach to the media. We also work hard to defeat bills that infringe on our freedoms and threaten our civil rights and liberties.
Click Here to View Our 2023 Legislative Agenda.
Click Here to View Our 2022 Legislative Agenda.
Click Here to View Our 2021 Legislative Agenda & WRAP-Up.
This bill, companion bill SB 387, would establish conditions and time limits for placing a child in room confinement at a detention or shelter facility.
This bill, companion bill SB 391, gives authorization for courts to expunge the records of a person for certain offenses that are related to homelessness.
This bill, companion bill HB 202, gives authorization for courts to expunge the records of a person for certain offenses that are related to homelessness.
This bill attempts to scale back the State's over reliance on cash bail by creating a presumption of release on recognizance for certain categories of offenses.