Hawaii bills · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB 239
RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- KITAGAWA (Democratic)
- MARTEN (Democratic)
- CHUN (Democratic)
- GRANDINETTI (Democratic)
- ICHIYAMA (Democratic)
- IWAMOTO (Democratic)
- KAHALOA (Democratic)
- KILA (Democratic)
- MATAYOSHI (Democratic)
- OLDS (Democratic)
- PERRUSO (Democratic)
- POEPOE (Democratic)
- SOUZA (Republican)
- TAKAYAMA (Democratic)
- TAM (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Hawaii legislature· description
Amends the definition of "child abuse or neglect" to clarify that the failure to provide certain needs to a child shall not constitute child abuse or neglect if the sole reason the person responsible for the care of the child is unable to adequately provide for the child's care is lack of financial resources; and evidence of parental request for support shall not be deemed as evidence of child abuse and neglect. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 12:24 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2025 Senate | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
| Feb 25, 2025 House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
| Feb 4, 2025 House | The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. | pass | Set your home in Hawaii to see |
Actions
- Jan 16, 2025 · House
Pending introduction. - Jan 17, 2025 · House
Introduced and Pass First Reading. - Jan 21, 2025 · House
Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 1 - Jan 31, 2025 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-04-25 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Feb 4, 2025 · House
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. - Feb 10, 2025 · House
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 255) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. - Feb 10, 2025 · House
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran, Kila, Ward excused (4). - Feb 21, 2025 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-25-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Feb 25, 2025 · House
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kahaloa, Garcia, Shimizu. - Feb 28, 2025 · House
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1051), recommending passage on Third Reading. - Mar 4, 2025 · House
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Amato, Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. - Mar 6, 2025 · Senate
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 202). - Mar 6, 2025 · Senate
Passed First Reading. - Mar 6, 2025 · Senate
Referred to HHS, JDC. - Mar 7, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. - Mar 12, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Keohokalole. - Mar 20, 2025 · Senate
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1190) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. - Mar 20, 2025 · Senate
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. - Mar 21, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-25-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 04-03-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. - Apr 3, 2025 · Senate
The committee on JDC deferred the measure. - Dec 8, 2025 · Legislature
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.