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Legislative record

HB 2197STATE · HawaiiIntroduced

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Specifies a process by which property owners may utilize law enforcement officers to remove unauthorized individuals from dwellings. Establishes the criminal offenses of squatting and fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property. Makes the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree for a person who knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling or in or upon the premises of a hotel or apartment building a class C felony, rather than a misdemeanor. Classifies the type of property damage typically inflicted by squatters as a form of criminal property damage in the second degree. Classifies the falsification of documentation typically performed by squatters as a form of unsworn falsification to authorities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Voted 3/12/2026

Roll-call record

How representatives voted

16 yea·0 nay·3 other

Docket history

Action history

  1. 3/12/2026Referred to CPN/PSM, JDC.
  2. 3/12/2026Passed First Reading.
  3. 3/12/2026Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 376).
  4. 3/10/2026Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
  5. 3/6/2026Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
  6. 3/6/2026Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1123-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
  7. 3/4/2026The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.
  8. 2/27/2026Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
  9. 2/19/2026Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
  10. 2/19/2026Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 526-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.