HB 2264: Protective Orders; Law Enforcement; Military; Judiciary; Coordination; Notification

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii is home to a large and diverse military population, including active-duty personnel, reservists, and their families.  While military families contribute significantly to the social and economic fabric of the State, they may also face distinct challenges when navigating the civilian justice system, particularly in situations involving protective orders.

     The legislature further finds that enhancing coordination and communication between civilian law enforcement agencies and the military is critical to ensuring the safety of victims, promoting accountability, and preventing further harm.  Timely notification to the security forces of each branch of the military of protective orders can support command-level interventions, ensure compliance, and provide a more integrated response to abusive behavior involving military members or their dependents.

     The purpose of this Act is to require information sharing between the judiciary, county police departments, department of law enforcement, and security forces of each branch of the military in cases involving protective orders.  This Act is intended to support early intervention, reduce the risk of repeated violence, and strengthen community safety through improved collaboration while upholding confidentiality and due process protections.

     SECTION 2.  Section 586-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§586-10  Copy to law enforcement [agency.] agencies and the designated military security forces in cases in which the respondent is alleged to be a servicemember.  (a)  Any order for protection granted pursuant to this chapter shall be transmitted by the clerk of the court within twenty-four hours to the appropriate county police department[.], department of law enforcement, and security forces of each branch of the military.

     (b)  Each county police department shall make available to other law enforcement officers in the same county, through a system for verification, information as to the existence and status of any order for protection issued pursuant to this chapter.

     (c)  The judiciary, county police departments, and department of law enforcement shall establish policies and procedures, in consultation with the security forces of each branch of the military, for interagency communications and training on the implementation of this section, including the designated military security force that shall receive notification pursuant to subsection (a).

     (d)  As used in this section:

     "Military" means all branches of the United States Armed Forces responsible for national defense; further defined as the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

     "Security forces of each branch of the military" means the Army Criminal Investigation Division and United States Army Garrison Hawaii, the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Air Force and Space Force through the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Protective Orders; Law Enforcement; Military; Judiciary; Coordination; Notification

Description:

Requires notification to the security forces of each branch of the military when a protective order is issued in a case involving a military-affiliated individual.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii is home to a large and diverse military population, including active duty personnel, reservists, and their families.  While military families contribute significantly to the social and economic fabric of the State, they may also face distinct challenges when navigating the civilian justice system, particularly in situations involving protective orders.

     The legislature further finds that enhancing coordination and communication between civilian law enforcement agencies and the military is critical to ensuring the safety of victims, promoting accountability, and preventing further harm.  Timely notification to the security forces of each branch of the military of protective orders can support command-level interventions, ensure compliance, and provide a more integrated response to abusive behavior involving military members or their dependents.

     The purpose of this Act is to require information sharing between the judiciary, the county police departments, the department of law enforcement, and the security forces of each branch of the military in cases involving protective orders.  This Act is intended to support early intervention, reduce the risk of repeated violence, and strengthen community safety through improved collaboration while upholding confidentiality and due process protections.

     SECTION 2.  Section 586-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§586-10  Copy to law enforcement [agency.] agencies and the security forces of each branch of the military.  (a)  Any order for protection granted pursuant to this chapter shall be transmitted by the clerk of the court within twenty-four hours to the appropriate county police department[.], the department of law enforcement, and the security forces of each branch of the military.

     (b)  Each county police department shall make available to other law enforcement officers in the same county, through a system for verification, information as to the existence and status of any order for protection issued pursuant to this chapter.

     (c)  The judiciary, the county police departments, and the department of law enforcement shall establish policies and procedures, in consultation with the security forces of each branch of the military, for interagency communications and training on the implementation of this section, while safeguarding victim confidentiality, due process, and compliance with applicable federal and state law.

     (d)  For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

     "Military" refers to all branches of the United States Armed Forces responsible for national defense; further defined as the Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

     "Security forces of each branch of the military" refers to the Army Criminal Investigation Division and U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Air Force and Space Force through the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Protective Orders; Law Enforcement; Military; Judiciary; Coordination; Notification

Description:

Requires notification to the security forces of each branch of the military when a protective order is issued in a case involving a military-affiliated individual.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  603-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2264

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 2264 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require notification to the security forces of each branch of the United States military when a protective order is issued in a case involving a military-affiliated individual.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the United States Department of Defense; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaiʻi National Guard; Military and Community Relations Office; Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

     Your Committee finds that nearly 58,000 active-duty, National Guard, and reserve military members and over 21,000 spouses of military members are stationed and living in the State.  Your Committee further finds that when domestic violence occurs within these households, victims often navigate both civilian and military legal systems that have not had an established arrangement for communicating with one another.  This information gap places victims at increased risk and can delay critical intervention.  Your Committee also finds that this measure addresses that gap in a balanced and practical manner by requiring timely information-sharing between the Judiciary, county police departments, the Department of Law Enforcement, and military security forces when a protective order is issued.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying the parties to the notification process;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2264, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2264, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,