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HB239Introduced in the House

Relating To Child Abuse.

Engrossed

Introduced by Lisa Marten, District 51

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official 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)

Where it stands

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

December 8, 2025

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Health and Human Services: Passed, With Amendments · March 12, 2025

3

Yes

0

No

2

Absent or Not Voting

5 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

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See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Joy San Buenaventura2Yes
Troy Hashimoto5Absent
Henry Aquino19Yes
Kurt Fevella20Yes
Jarrett Keohokalole24Absent

Bill history

  1. Pending introduction.

  2. Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 1

  4. Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-04-25 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  5. 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.

  6. Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 255) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  7. 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).

  8. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-25-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  9. 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.

  10. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1051), recommending passage on Third Reading.

  11. 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.

  12. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 202).

  13. Passed First Reading.

  14. Referred to HHS, JDC.

  15. The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

  16. 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.

  17. Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1190) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

  18. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

  19. The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-25-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  20. The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 04-03-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  21. The committee on JDC deferred the measure.

  22. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

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