HB 848 Summary

• Modernizes Hawaii's civil relief protections for state military forces by conforming Chapter 657D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the federal Servicemember's Civil Relief Act with significant expansions and clarifications of service member rights.

• Allows service members to terminate contracts for telecommunications, internet, television, athletic club memberships, and satellite radio services when receiving military orders to relocate for at least 90 days to a location that does not support the contract.

• Expands protections for service members and dependents regarding evictions, installment contracts, mortgages, leases, and life insurance by providing stays of proceedings, interest rate limitations, and relief from enforcement actions when military service materially affects their ability to comply with obligations.

• Establishes new provisions protecting service members' interests in residential and motor vehicle leases, allowing termination with proper notice and military orders, plus protections against certain credit reporting annotations and changes in insurance terms.

• Waives filing fees and court costs for service members or other persons seeking to enforce rights under the chapter, and provides enforcement authority to the attorney general for pattern violations with civil penalty provisions up to specified amounts.