THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
778
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SENTENCING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that through a court decision, Massachusetts became the first state to ban life without parole sentences for individuals eighteen years of old through twenty years old, considering those in this age group as "emerging adults". The court extended the bright line age cut‑off from eighteen years of age to twenty years of age in part due to neuroscience research that supports that brain maturation continues through an individual's mid-twenties.
The purpose of this Act is to change the age for which individuals are eligible for life without parole sentences from eighteen years of age or older to twenty-one years of age or older.
SECTION 2. Chapter 706, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §706- ] [Underlined: Emerging adult defendants.] [Underlined: (1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no emerging adult defendant shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.]
[Underlined: (2) For the purposes of this section, "emerging adult defendant" means a person convicted of a crime who, at the time of the offense, is over eighteen years of age and less than twenty-one years of age.]"
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Emerging Adult Defendant; Sentencing; Life Without Parole; Penal Code
Description:
Prohibits emerging adult defendants from being sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. (SD1)
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