Honolulu Downtown views from Prospect Street showing the core of downtown.
Profile Image

Karl Rhoads

Democrat, State Senate
District 13, Oʻahu
Time in office:
  • Senate: 2016-present
  • House: 2006-2016

News coverage of Karl Rhoads

Bio

Karl Rhoads has been in the Legislature nearly 20 years and currently serves as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was first elected to the House in 2006 where he was also the House Judiciary chair. His Senate district includes Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown and Downtown.

Rhoads holds a law degree from George Washington University and worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Eliot L. Engel of New York, as a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (New York) and as an intern to former U.S. Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts.

Leader Badges

Bill Activity

0

Of 275 bills:
4 Passed
0 Failed
271 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 275 bills: 4 passed, 0 failed, and 271 are currently pending.

Alignment Meter

See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.

xx%votes: xx

Financials

This feature tracks sources of money intended to help a candidate win election.

Election

This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).

Communications & Electronics

$1.5K

Construction

$3.0K

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

$1.9K

General Business

$1.5K

Health

$500.0

Labor

$5.3K

Lawyers & Lobbyists

$2.5K

Transportation

$2.5K

Uncoded

$13.1K

Candidate Donations

Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $4000 for the Senate and $2000 for the house.

Total
$31.9K

42.0% lower than the average legislators

Grand Total for Elections

$31.9K

42.0% lower than the average legislators

This is a total of the money targeting this legislator's campaign(s) including direct donations to the candidate, money spent by Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.


Influence

There are two categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel.

Giver
Value
Date
Description
Peter Fritz$210May 4, 2018Twenty-one loaves of homemade bread.

Gifts

For gifts that are allowed, legislators must file an annual gifts disclosure statement with the Hawai'i State Ethics Commission if they or their spouse or dependent child receive from a single source one or multiple gifts and the whole aggregate value exceeds $200.

Gift Received Rating
#9/76

This legislator is ranked 9th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Policy

Bills Authored by Karl Rhoads

SB 2721
HAWAII PENAL CODE; ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS; IMPLEMENTATION

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

In Progress
HAWAII PENAL CODE; ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS; IMPLEMENTATIONCommittee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
SB 2143 Passed
SB 2727 Passed
SB 2466
ELECTIONS COMMISSION; CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER; TERMINATION

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

Passed
ELECTIONS COMMISSION; CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER; TERMINATIONCommittee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
View All Bills

Hearings

Featured Comments

Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.

Preview image for SB 247114MIN
May 8, 2026

SB 2471

Bill Not Specified at this Time Code

Preview image for SB 24711MIN
May 6, 2026

SB 2471

Bill Not Specified at this Time Code

Preview image for SB 215255SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2152

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; JUDGES; MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE

Preview image for SB 24713MIN
May 1, 2026

SB 2471

Bill Not Specified at this Time Code

Preview image for SB 244624SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2446

INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS; MEMBERSHIP

Preview image for SB 291940SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2919

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER; POSITION; APPROPRIATION

Preview image for SB 244617SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2446

INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS; MEMBERSHIP

Preview image for SB 291939SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2919

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER; POSITION; APPROPRIATION

Preview image for SB 215246SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2152

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; JUDGES; MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE

Preview image for SB 215242SEC
Apr 30, 2026

SB 2152

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT; JUDGES; MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE

Preview image for SB 291931SEC
Apr 30, 2026

SB 2919

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER; POSITION; APPROPRIATION

Preview image for SB 244631SEC
Apr 30, 2026

SB 2446

INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS; MEMBERSHIP

View All Hearings

District

State Senate District 13

Previous Election ():

Census Data

Median age010203040

Median age