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Bill Summary · HB 981

Legislative bill overview

HB 981 relates to attorneys' fees in Hawaii, though the specific provisions are not detailed in the provided legislative history. The bill has progressed through initial readings and committee review but was deferred by the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee in February 2025 and ultimately carried over to the 2026 Regular Session without passage.

Why is this important

Attorneys' fees legislation can significantly impact access to justice, litigation costs, and the economics of legal practice in Hawaii. Changes to fee-shifting rules, contingency fee limits, or fee award provisions affect consumers, businesses, and the legal profession's ability to serve clients across income levels.

Potential points of contention

  • Fee-shifting mechanisms: Whether the bill expands or limits when losing parties must pay winning parties' legal costs, which affects litigation incentives and settlement dynamics
  • Scope of affected cases: Whether changes apply broadly across all civil litigation or target specific case types (consumer, employment, environmental, etc.), creating differential impacts
  • Impact on access to justice: Whether fee modifications encourage or discourage litigation by individuals and small businesses, particularly those unable to afford upfront legal costs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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