Bill > SB722

This bill reforms Hawaii's civil asset forfeiture laws to make the process more just and transparent. It restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving felony offenses where the property owner has been convicted of the underlying crime, effectively ending the current practice of seizing property without a criminal conviction. The bill directs all forfeiture proceeds to the state's general fund instead of allowing law enforcement agencies to keep the proceeds, which previously created a potential financial incentive for seizures. It also establishes new restrictions on transferring seized property to federal agencies, limiting such transfers to cases involving over $100,000 in U.S. currency. The legislation requires law enforcement agencies to maintain detailed public records of all forfeited property, including its authority for seizure, date of forfeiture, possession, description, and estimated value. Additionally, the bill amends reporting requirements, mandating that the Attorney General provide a more comprehensive report to the legislature about forfeiture activities, including the amount of money deposited into the general fund. These changes aim to address concerns raised by the Institute for Justice, which had previously given Hawaii's civil forfeiture laws a "D-" rating and characterized them as "among the nation's worst."

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=722&year=2026