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SB117Introduced in the Senate

Relating To Defamation.

EngrossedHouse Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Introduced by Karl Rhoads, District 13

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Protects individuals who make claims of sexual misconduct from defamation lawsuits unless the claims were proven to be made with malice. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Where it stands

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

December 8, 2025

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Judiciary: Passed, With Amendments · January 28, 2025

3

Yes

2

No

0

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.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Joy San Buenaventura2No
Stanley Chang9Yes
Karl Rhoads13Yes
Mike Gabbard21Yes
Brenton Awa23No

Bill history

  1. Pending Introduction.

  2. Introduced and passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to JDC.

  4. The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

  6. Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 711) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.

  7. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

  8. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.

  9. Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Keohokalole, Kim, McKelvey, Richards, San Buenaventura . Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

  10. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 89) in amended form (SD 1).

  11. Pass First Reading

  12. Referred to JHA, referral sheet 19

  13. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-11-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  14. The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

  15. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

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