Bills

SB 2919: Office of the Public Defender; Position; Appropriation

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Senate
Latest Version Date: 2026-03-24

Current Status:

Failed

(2026-05-01: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 325.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

Appropriates funds to the Office of the Public Defender for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Deputy Public Defender III position. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Date	Status
May 1, 2026	Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 325.
Apr 30, 2026	Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
Apr 29, 2026	Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 325.
Apr 28, 2026	Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:00PM; CR 325.
Apr 27, 2026	Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
Apr 24, 2026	Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
Apr 23, 2026	Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-26 3:10PM; Conference Room 325.
Apr 22, 2026	Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-26 2:35PM; Conference Room 325.
Apr 21, 2026	Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).
Apr 21, 2026	Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Elefante Co-Chair; Awa.
Apr 20, 2026	Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
Apr 20, 2026	House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Kusch Co-Chairs; Poepoe, Garcia.
Apr 16, 2026	Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
Apr 16, 2026	Senate disagrees with House amendments.
Apr 16, 2026	Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 714).
Apr 14, 2026	Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
Apr 10, 2026	Deferred one day 04-14-26.
Apr 10, 2026	Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2073-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
Apr 7, 2026	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.
Apr 2, 2026	Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Apr 2, 2026	The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.
Mar 31, 2026	Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Mar 25, 2026	Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).
Mar 25, 2026	Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1416-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
Mar 19, 2026	The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Cochran, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Sayama.
Mar 17, 2026	Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Mar 10, 2026	Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 15
Mar 5, 2026	Pass First Reading
Feb 25, 2026	Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 18) in amended form (SD 1).
Feb 25, 2026	Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Kidani). Transmitted to House.
Feb 23, 2026	48 Hrs. Notice 02-25-26.
Feb 23, 2026	Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2704) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
Feb 19, 2026	The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.
Feb 13, 2026	The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
Feb 11, 2026	Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.
Feb 11, 2026	Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2203) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
Feb 10, 2026	The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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.
Feb 5, 2026	The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
Jan 30, 2026	Referred to JDC, WAM.
Jan 26, 2026	Passed First Reading.
Jan 23, 2026	Introduced.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Apr 14, 2026	Third Reading	House Floor	48 3 1 Passed
Apr 7, 2026	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	House Standing Committee on Finance	15 0 1 Passed
Mar 19, 2026	The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs	7 1 2 Passed
Feb 25, 2026	Third Reading	Senate Floor	24 0 1 Passed
Feb 19, 2026	The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Ways and Means	11 0 2 Passed
Feb 10, 2026	The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary	5 0 0 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
ACLU of Hawai‘i	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Community Alliance on Prisons	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
El Pueblo en Acción Maui	*** Support	Mar 19, 2026
Faith Action for Community Equity	*** Support	Mar 19, 2026
Hawai'i Filipinos for Truth, Justice and Democracy	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Hawai‘i Public Health Institute	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Law Office of Georgette A. Yaindl, LLLC	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Office of the Public Defender	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Office of the Public Defender (State of Hawai‘i)	*** Support	Feb 19, 2026
Roots Reborn	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
The Legal Clinic	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
Vera Institute of Justice	*** Support	Apr 2, 2026
William S. Richardson School of Law Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic	** Support

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

SSCR2704 Jill M. Tsuchitori SSCR Ainoa Naniole 2 20 2011-01-28T03:25:00Z 2026-02-21T01:25:00Z 2026-02-21T01:25:00Z 2 360 1911 House of Representatives 22596 79 24 2264 16.00 Print 110 0 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2704

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2919

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2919 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to hire an additional full-time employee at the Office of the Public Defender.

More specifically, this measure provides funding for a full‑time attorney in the Office of the Public Defender to offer counsel on constitutional questions and related legal matters.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the Office of the Public Defender is a statewide agency that fulfills the State's obligation to provide legal counsel for indigent persons. Your Committee recognizes that constitutionally effective representation requires attorneys in the Office of the Public Defender to be apprised of the constitutional, civil, and statutory ramifications of their cases. Your Committee further finds that all current attorney positions at the Office of the Public Defender are needed to provide representation in trial and appellate matters. Your Committee finds, therefore, that the Office of the Public Defender requires an additional attorney who can advise its attorneys regarding constitutional issues and related legal matters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $125,004 to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2919, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2919, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

SSCR2203 Blake Anderson SSCR Ainoa Naniole 2 7 2026-02-11T00:36:00Z 2026-02-11T03:47:00Z 2026-02-11T03:47:00Z 2 385 2059 House of Representatives 21583 74 19 2444 16.00 Print 0 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2203

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2919

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2919 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Office of the Public Defender for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Deputy Public Defender III position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, The Legal Clinic, ACLU Hawaiʻi, William S. Richardson School of Law Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Office of the Public Defender (Office) is a statewide agency with branches in all four counties. The Office's mission is to fulfill the State's obligation to provide legal counsel for indigent persons who are charged with a criminal offense or to other persons who have been statutorily afforded counsel. Your Committee further finds that last year, the Office's one hundred two attorneys handled 34,363 cases, averaging three hundred thirty cases per attorney. Many of these cases may have convictions that have constitutional, civil, statutory, or immigration ramifications which must be taken into consideration when resolving the case. Despite the Office being a statewide office, it currently has no attorneys who are assigned to assist its attorneys statewide in constitutional and legal matters, as all existing attorney positions are necessary to provide representation in trial and appellate matters. The position established and funded by this measure will ensure that the attorneys employed by the Office of the Public Defender are kept up to date with changes to the law to remain capable of providing effective and competent representation statewide.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2919 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Apr 2, 2026	SB2919_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_04-02-26_.PDF
Mar 19, 2026	SB2919_SD1_TESTIMONY_JHA_03-19-26_.PDF
Feb 19, 2026	SB2919_TESTIMONY_WAM_02-19-26_.PDF
Feb 10, 2026	SB2919_TESTIMONY_JDC_02-10-26_.PDF

Discussed in Hearing

40SEC

Authors shown for version:
SB2919_HD1 (3/24/2026)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2919
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2919
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2919
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

SB 2919: Office of the Public Defender; Position; Appropriation

Current Status:

Conference Committee

Conference Committee

Conference Committee

Conference Committee

Conference Committee

Conference Committee

Conference Committee

House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs