Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1838: Relating to Visas.
Status: Signed into law, June 24, 2026
Establishes uniform statewide requirements for policies and processes for the issuance of U and T visa certifications for noncitizen victims of crime that are consistent with federal laws and regulations governing U and T visas. Requires each state and county certifying entity to adopt a policy and process for the issuance of U and T visa certifications, consistent with those statewide requirements. Appropriate funds for the Department of the Attorney General to provide training to state and county certifying entities so that the policies and processes comply with all federal requirements. Appropriates funds to the Department of the Attorney General for the training.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to visas.
From the enrolled text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VISAS. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that U nonimmigrant status (U visa) and T nonimmigrant status (T visa) are crimefighting tools created by the United States Congress to enhance access to justice and humanitarian relief for noncitizen victims of crime. Both U and T visas provide a nonimmigrant temporary status that allows noncitizen survivors of crime to stay in the United States, obtain employment authorization, apply for lawful permanent resident status, and help certain family members obtain immigration status. The U visa is intended to protect survivors of certain crimes who have courageously reported the crime or assisted in the criminal investigation or prosecution. For an immigrant survivor of crime to qualify for U nonimmigrant status, a certifying entity, including a law enforcement agency, prosecutor, judge, or other government agency authorized under federal law to sign U visa certifications, must complete Form I 918, Supplement B, attesting to the survivor's assistance in the 2026--3284 HB1838 CD1 HMSO NcJ. ~ H.B. C.D. detection, investigation, or prosecution of the crime. The certification is an essential prerequisite to the filing of a petition to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for U nonimmigrant status. The T visa provides similar relief to victims of severe forms of human trafficking who assist in the detection, investigation, …
Sponsors
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Della Belatti (D, 26)
- Gedeon, Joe (R, 18)
- Ikaika Hussey (D, 29)
- Kim Iwamoto (D, 25)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Ikaika Olds (D, 23)
- Mahina Poepoe (D, 13)
- Jackson Sayama (D, 21)
- Garner Shimizu (R, 32)
Latest actions
- : Act 142, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1243).
- : Act 142, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1243).
- : Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
- : Transmitted to Governor.
- : Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
- : Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Kila voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).
- : Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
- : 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
- : Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 144-26).
- : Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
Votes
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1) (May 6, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Kila voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0) (May 6, 2026): 50 yea, 1 nay, passed
- none. (April 30, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Conference Committee Vote (April 30, 2026): 2 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading (April 10, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Visas, Counties, Reports
Common questions
- What is HB1838?
- HB1838 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Visas.
- What does HB1838 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to visas.
- What is the status of HB1838?
- Signed into law as of June 24, 2026. Latest action: Act 142, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1243). (June 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1838?
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1838?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1838&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.