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SB955Introduced in the Senate

Relating To Fitness To Proceed.

EngrossedHouse Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Introduced by Joy San Buenaventura, District 2

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Clarifies who may serve as a qualified examiner in a fitness-to-proceed examination. Clarifies the term of commitment for a defendant being held at a hospital or mental health facility for a fitness-to-proceed examination. Reduces the number of qualified examiners required for a fitness-to-proceed examination in a felony case from 3 to 1. Establishes a reduced penalty, except in certain circumstances, for a person who commits the offense of escape in the second degree while in the custody of the Director of Health. Sunsets the amendments related to fitness-to-proceed examinations on 12/31/26. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Where it stands

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

December 8, 2025

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Ways and Means: Passed, With Amendments · February 19, 2025

13

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

13 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
Lorraine Inouye1Yes
Dru Kanuha3Yes
Troy Hashimoto5Yes
Lynn Decoite7Yes
Sharon Moriwaki12Yes
Donna Kim14Yes
Glenn Wakai15Yes
Brandon Elefante16Yes
Donovan Cruz17Yes
Michelle Kidani18Yes

Bill history

  1. Introduced.

  2. Passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to HHS/JDC, WAM.

  4. The committee(s) on HHS/JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-25 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole.

  6. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

  7. Reported from HHS/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 657) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

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

  9. The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  10. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  11. Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 839) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

  12. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.

  13. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

  14. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 228) in amended form (SD 2).

  15. Pass First Reading

  16. Referred to HLT, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

  17. Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 03-12-25 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  18. The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

  19. Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1231) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  20. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick, Souza voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4).

  21. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

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