Bill > HB384

This bill addresses several legal provisions related to sexual offenses against minors, focusing on increasing protections and penalties. It modifies the statute of limitations for sexual offenses involving minors, extending the time during which prosecutions can be brought by pausing the limitation period while the victim is under 18 years old and specifically including offenses under chapters 712 (relating to obscenity and sexual offenses) in addition to existing provisions. The bill elevates the offense of "promoting minor-produced sexual images" from a misdemeanor to a class C felony when the offender is more than three years older than the minor, while keeping it a misdemeanor for those less than three years older. Additionally, the bill extends probationary terms for certain felony offenses and adds two specific obscenity-related offenses to the list of sexual offenses that require sex offender registration: promoting pornography for minors and promoting minor-produced sexual images in the first degree. These changes aim to provide stronger legal mechanisms to protect minors from sexual exploitation and ensure more comprehensive tracking and punishment of offenders who engage in sexually inappropriate behavior with minors.

Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=384&year=2026