Holt on the record

Requires courts to consider a defendant's actual ability to pay before setting bail. People should not sit in jail before trial simply because they are unable to pay bail. Chair Tarnas, Vice Chair Poepoe, and Members of the Committee, I am submitting testimony in support of HB 1516. Right now, bail is supposed to ensure someone shows up to court. But in practice it functions as something else entirely: a wealth test. Two people charged with the exact same offense can face the exact same bail amount, and one goes home that night while the other sits in a cell for weeks or months simply because they are poor. That is not justice. That is a two tiered system that punishes people for being broke before they have even been convicted of anything. HB 1516 requires judges to actually consider what a defendant can afford when setting bail. It excludes public benefits income from that calculation, because counting someone's disability check or TANF assistance as ability to pay is not a realistic measure of anything. And it focuses on what someone could actually pull together within forty hours of arrest, which is the real world question. The law already says bail should not be so high that it lets the wealthy escape consequences or renders the system useless to the poor. This bill makes that principle mean something in practice. I urge the committee to pass HB 1516. Mahalo for your time and consideration.

Creates uniform statewide requirements for issuing U and T visa certifications to immigrant victims of crime and trafficking. Without these certifications, victims are afraid to report crimes. This bill removes that barrier. This testimony was written by Cristina and submitted on behalf of HULI PAC, a political action committee Cristina serves as a member of. It reflects positions she personally supports. Aloha Chair Ilagan, Vice Chair Hussey, and Members of the Committee, HULI PAC strongly supports HB 1838, which establishes uniform statewide requirements for the issuance of U and T visa certifications for noncitizen victims of crime, consistent with federal law. U and T visas are crimefighting tools that help survivors access temporary status and employment authorization, and may allow survivors to apply for lawful permanent resident status. Right now, certifying entities are not required by federal law to complete or sign these certifications, and the bill identifies that some entities are resistant due to lack of understanding or resources. Without uniform standards, victims statewide face inconsistent access to justice. HB 1838 addresses this by requiring state and county certifying entities to adopt publicly available written policies and processes, designate certifying officials, and follow clear response timelines. HB 1838 also establishes important process protections, including written notice of denial with reasons and an option to submit additional evidence, confidentiality of immigration status and personal identifying information, and language access protocols. The bill further provides for training through the Department of the Attorney General and appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026–2027 to support that training. We respectfully urge the Committee to support passage of HB 1838. Mahalo.

Requires law enforcement to notify anyone in custody of their rights before any interview with federal immigration authorities begins. No one should be handed to ICE without knowing they have the right to remain silent. This testimony was written by Cristina and submitted on behalf of HULI PAC, a political action committee Cristina serves as a member of. It reflects positions she personally supports. Aloha Chair Ilagan, Vice Chair Hussey, and Members of the Committee, HULI PAC strongly supports HB 1839, which ensures due process and transparency for immigrants and migrants in state and county law enforcement custody when federal immigration authorities seek access for civil immigration matters. HB 1839 recognizes that while immigration is a federal responsibility, state and local agencies have discretion in how they respond to requests from federal immigration enforcement. This bill establishes clear, consistent requirements before any civil immigration interview with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement may begin, including written notice that explains the purpose of the interview, that the interview is voluntary, and that the person may decline or choose to be interviewed only with an attorney present. The bill also requires that these consent forms be available at no cost and in the languages provided by the Office of Language Access. HB 1839 further strengthens transparency by designating records relating to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to detained individuals as public records, with personal identifying information redacted, and requiring law enforcement agencies to log interview requests and key details. The bill also requires agencies that provided federal immigration authorities access to detained individuals within the previous year to hold at least two community forums during the following year to share information and receive public comment. These protections promote lawful due process, clearer standards for agencies, and accountability to the public. They also reinforce Hawaiʻi’s commitment to civil rights protections for all. We respectfully urge the Committee to support passage of HB 1839. Mahalo.

Establishes statewide standards limiting how much state and county agencies can participate in federal immigration enforcement at protected locations like schools, hospitals, churches, and shelters.

Chair Tarnas, Vice Chair Poepoe, and Members of the Committee, I am submitting testimony in STRONG SUPPORT of HB 2099. I am the District 2 Chair for the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and I want to be direct with you about something: the current vacancy appointment process is not democratic, and I say that as someone who operates inside it. Here is the reality. When a state senate seat becomes vacant, as few as 32 district committee members across the relevant house districts have the power to select 3 names to send to the governor for appointment. Thirty-two people. Not the thousands of voters who live in that senate district. Just a handful of "party insiders", meeting in a room, deciding who gets to be a state senator. By the time that appointed incumbent faces voters, they already have many advantages of office. The first, hardest election gets skipped entirely. What I want is special elections with rank-choice voting. Let the voters choose. But, I recognize that HB 2099 is a step toward something better than what we have now. Clearer rules and a more transparent process make it harder to run backroom chess with public seats, and that matters. I support this bill, and I hope the Legislature will continue pushing toward a process that actually puts voters back in charge. I urge the committee to pass HB 2099. Mahalo for your time and consideration.

Requires the Department of Education to develop an emergency response plan for immigration enforcement at or near public schools. Children should be able to go to school without fear. Cristina wrote this testimony and submitted it on behalf of HULI PAC, a political action committee she volunteers for. Aloha Chair Ilagan, Vice Chair Hussey, and Members of the Committee, HULI PAC strongly supports HB 2445, which requires the Department of Education to develop, establish, and implement a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity at or near public schools. Schools must remain safe, stable, and supportive environments for all students. HB 2445 recognizes that unplanned law enforcement or immigration enforcement activity on or near school campuses may cause fear, disrupt learning, and create emotional distress for students and families. This bill ensures school personnel are trained, prepared, and guided by clear protocols that prioritize student safety, continuity of education, and lawful due process. HB 2445 requires a standardized plan designed to protect student safety and emotional well-being, minimize disruption, ensure compliance with state and federal law, and provide clear guidance to administrators and staff when immigration enforcement activity occurs on or near campus. The plan includes protocols for law enforcement presence, safeguards around access to school grounds and student records, student protection measures, parental and guardian communication procedures including multilingual communication where practicable, and mandatory staff training that includes legal guidance, trauma-informed practices, and student de-escalation strategies. The bill also protects personally identifiable student information consistent with state and federal privacy laws, and clarifies that nothing in the plan interferes with lawful enforcement activity or creates a duty for school personnel to determine a student’s immigration status. We respectfully urge the Committee to support passage of HB 2445. Mahalo.

Requires law enforcement officers to be visibly identified while on duty, prohibits face coverings that conceal identity, and limits local police participation in civil immigration enforcement. You cannot hold law enforcement accountable if you cannot see who they are. Cristina wrote this testimony and submitted it on behalf of HULI PAC, a political action committee she volunteers for. Aloha Chair Ilagan, Vice Chair Hussey, and Members of the Committee, HULI PAC strongly supports HB 2540, which establishes clear standards to ensure law enforcement officers and vehicles are visibly identifiable, sets limits on civil immigration enforcement by state and county agencies, and provides guardrails around civil immigration status inquiries. HB 2540 recognizes that the use of facial coverings and the obscuring of officer identity can create fear, intimidation, and public distrust. This bill addresses those concerns by requiring visible identification for law enforcement officers and conspicuous markings on law enforcement vehicles, while allowing narrowly tailored exceptions for specific operational needs. It also requires agencies to adopt and publicly post written policies that affirm commitments to transparency, accountability, and public trust. The bill further establishes statewide policies governing civil immigration enforcement, including requirements that such activity proceed only with documented legal authority that prioritizes due process and judicial oversight, and restrictions on enforcement activity at sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship, health care facilities, and shelters. HB 2540 also sets clear limitations on civil immigration status inquiries, prohibiting officers from initiating or prolonging stops solely to determine immigration status and clarifying that reasonable suspicion may not be based on race, ethnicity, language, or other protected characteristics. By setting consistent standards for identification, accountability, and lawful enforcement practices, HB 2540 strengthens clarity for agencies and helps reinforce public confidence in law enforcement while respecting civil rights and due process protections. We respectfully urge the Committee to support passage of HB 2540. Mahalo.