Gov. Green signs bills to boost human trafficking awareness, strengthen domestic violence protections

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Gov. Josh Green signed two bills Tuesday focused on human trafficking and domestic abuse, underscoring the importance of both issues.

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Gov. Green signed House Bill 1960 and House Bill 1959 into law at the State Capitol aimed at raising awareness about human trafficking and strengthening domestic violence protections.

“Protecting survivors and safeguarding the people of Hawaiʻi must remain at the heart of our work,” said Governor Green. “By investing in strong training programs and advancing thoughtful, effective policy, we can better prevent domestic violence and human trafficking while ensuring every survivor receives the safety and support they deserve.”

House Bill 1960 requires employers and third-party contractors in the visitor industry to adopt a human trafficking prevention policy and to post awareness signage by the start of 2028.

“This bill and its fight against human trafficking by requiring the training for workers in our visitor industry to recognize the signs of exploitation and knowing how to respond,” said Senator Lynn DeCoite, Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism.

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House Bill 1959 temporarily expands domestic violence laws by creating a petty misdemeanor for abuse of a family or household member. The bill will be in effect for five years.

“Over the next five years, we’ll carefully evaluate this pilot program to determine whether it improves survivor safety, strengthens community safety, and increases offender accountability,” said Angelina Mercado, executive director of the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “This bill is an important step, but it cannot be the last one.”

Gov. Green said the Attorney General’s Office will enforce the human trafficking awareness program, and a $100 domestic violence fine will go toward moving cases into the system more quickly.

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