Hawaiʻi Women’s Legislative Caucus presents 2026 bill package in support of women, keiki, families

Members of the bipartisan, bicameral Hawaiʻi Women’s Legislative Caucus on Wednesday (Jan. 28) led a panel discussion in collaboration with the YWCA of Oʻahu to present their 2026 bill package.

The proposed legislation reflects the continuous work of the caucus to improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s women, children, and families.

“This session, the Women’s Legislative Caucus worked closely with stakeholders and advocates to introduce legislation that directly addresses some of our most vulnerable communities,” said Hawaiʻi House Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama of Oʻahu in a release following the panel. “From expanding protections for survivors of abuse to ensuring access to health care, these priorities reflect what is top of mind for our caucus as we enter the 2026 legislative session.”

Caucus members dedicated their bill package to Hawaiʻi Senate Vice President Michelle Kidani and YWCA Oʻahu for their leadership and commitment to empowering women, supporting families and strengthening communities statewide.

“I’m truly honored and humbled that the Women’s Legislative Caucus chose to dedicate this bill package to me,” said Kidani in the release.

She added that the legacy of former Hawaiʻi U.S. Congresswoman Patsy Mink, author of Title IX, was the inspiration behind her run for office.

Mink’s courage, vision and relentless pursuit of equity also continue to guide why Kidani serves and the priorities for which she advocates as a state legislator.

“This year’s package reflects the values we share: equity, opportunity, safety and progress, and serves as a reminder that our work goes beyond legislation,” Kidani said. “It’s a commitment to the people we serve.”

2026 Women’s Legislative Caucus bill package

Senate Bill 2843/House Bill 1959: Relating to Domestic Violence

• Extends for 5 years certain provisions relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses. Effective June 29.

Senate Bill 2841/House Bill 1960: Relating to human trafficking

• Requires Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General to develop a human trafficking awareness training program to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector. Requires transient accommodations employers to periodically provide human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers, keep records of the training, post signage and develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking. Establishes penalties. Requires the Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules.

Senate Bill 2845/House Bill 1961: Relating to health care

• Prohibits people from interfering with another person’s access to or from a healthcare facility or disrupting the normal functioning of a healthcare facility. Makes violations a petty misdemeanor. Establishes a private right of action for people and healthcare facilities harmed as a result of interference with a healthcare facility. Authorizes the attorney general to bring an action for injunctive or other equitable relief.

Senate Bill 2842/House Bill 1962: Relating to family

• Establishes an exemption from mediation in parentage proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse.

Senate Bill 2844/House Bill 1963: Relating to image-based sexual abuse

• Establishes the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate or private images as a criminal offense. Amends criteria for an extended term of imprisonment to include an offender whose act of attempting to commit or committing the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate or private images against a minor or vulnerable adult resulted in the victim’s death.

House Resolution 5/House Concurrent Resolution 6, Senate Resolution 7/Senate Concurrent Resolution 7:

• Affirming and supporting the requirement that hospitals provide life-saving emergency care to pregnant women — including reproductive and abortion services — when such care is medically necessary to stabilize a patient under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.

“We partnered with the Sex Abuse Treatment Center to address a gap in current law on sextortion, to ensure that we can hold predators accountable and keep kids safe, which is even more important in this digital world,” said House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto of O‘ahu in the release.

There are 23 women state representatives among the chamber’s 51 members and 9 women state senators among its 25 members in Hawaiʻi Legislature.

Maui County state Sen. Lynn DeCoite said these bills recognize real challenges and affirm that everyone deserves to live with safety, dignity and compassion no matter where they live in Hawaiʻi.

“The Women’s Legislative Caucus bill package reflects our deep commitment to protecting women, children and families across Hawaiʻi,” said DeCoite in the release. “By working closely with advocates, service providers and community partners, we are advancing legislation that supports survivors of abuse, prevents exploitation and safeguards access to critical health care.”

View the entire 2026 Women’s Legislative Caucus bill package here.

The Women’s Legislative Caucus is a formal, bipartisan and bicameral caucus dedicated to advancing legislation that improves the lives of Hawaiʻi women, children and families.