Bill > SB154

This bill addresses eviction records and their potential negative impact on tenants by establishing a comprehensive framework for sealing eviction court records. The legislation requires courts to automatically seal eviction records immediately if the case is dismissed or does not result in a landlord's judgment of possession, and within two years if the landlord wins the case. Tenants can also request early sealing of records under specific circumstances, such as if the judgment is for $500 or less, the eviction involved a low-income housing program, or the eviction was related to domestic violence or discrimination. The bill makes it illegal for landlords, real estate professionals, and other parties to discriminate against a person based on a sealed eviction record, prohibiting them from requiring disclosure of such records during real estate transactions, loan applications, or other property-related activities. By protecting tenants from long-term consequences of eviction proceedings, even those that do not result in the tenant being removed from their residence, the bill aims to prevent unfair barriers to housing and economic opportunities that can arise from the mere filing of an eviction case.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=154&year=2026