HB 1247 Summary

• Creates the "Hō'okipa Welcoming Policy Act" to restrict Hawaii law enforcement agencies from assisting with federal immigration enforcement activities or investigating immigration status.

• Prohibits state and local law enforcement from stopping, questioning, or arresting individuals based solely on immigration or citizenship status, or from honoring immigration detainers without a judicial warrant.

• Permits limited exceptions allowing law enforcement to detain individuals on immigration detainers or share information when the individual has been convicted of a felony, convicted of specified misdemeanors within five years, has probable cause for terrorist activity, or is a registered sex offender under Chapter 846E.

• Requires Hawaii law enforcement agencies to provide semi-annual reports to the state attorney general detailing all immigration detainer requests received from federal agencies, including information about individuals, requests received, and agency responses, with personally identifiable information redacted.

• Establishes that state and local agencies may still share citizenship or immigration status information pursuant to federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1373) and comply with judicial warrants or court orders.