By Hawaii News Now Staff
Published: Jan. 12, 2026
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - ACLU of Hawaii laid out Monday its top priorities for state legislators to address ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
ACLU-HI is calling on lawmakers to take action on criminal legal system reform, gender equity and LGBTQ+ rights, and added protections for Hawaii’s immigrant community.
Executive director Salmah Rizvi said, “We know that local law enforcement agencies do have jurisdiction to hold the federal government and its agents accountable when they commit crimes in our jurisdiction. We have the power to ensure Hawaii remains the beautiful, diverse, and open society we all enjoy.”
Sen. Karl Rhoads, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he plans to propose a bill that bans masks for law enforcement officers.
This comes amid several high-profile incidents with ICE agents across the country.
“The need for this bill is obvious: the hyper-aggressive actions on the part of people claiming to be ICE agents,” he said. “These actions include, just in the last few days, executing an American citizen without judge or jury and a number of detentions of American citizens without cause.”
Rhoads is also pushing for a bill that bans immigration enforcement in areas deemed sensitive places, including schools and places of worship.
Opening day of the Hawaii State Legislature falls on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
