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SR 71

REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP AND PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON WAYS TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVORS OF IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brandon Elefante and 4 co-sponsors

Hawaii directs state agencies to study and recommend legal protections for non-consensual intimate image distribution victims.

Referred to JDC.
#departmentoftheattorneygeneral #hawaiistatecommissiononthestatusofwomen #image-basedsexualabuse #protections #report #workinggroup
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Bill Summary · SR 71

Legislative bill overview

SR 71 requests that Hawaii's Commission on the Status of Women, working with the Attorney General's office, form a working group to study and report back to the legislature on strengthening legal protections for victims of image-based sexual abuse (non-consensual sharing of intimate images). The bill does not itself create new laws but rather directs state agencies to investigate the issue and recommend legislative solutions.

Why is this important

Image-based sexual abuse—the non-consensual distribution of intimate photos or videos—is a growing form of harassment with serious psychological and social consequences for victims. Hawaii currently has limited statutory protections against this practice, and this study could identify legal gaps and inform future legislation that addresses both the harm to victims and potential prosecution frameworks.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of protections vs. free speech concerns: Defining which images qualify for protection without inadvertently restricting legitimate speech or creating vague laws that could be misused
  • Enforcement challenges: Determining practical enforcement mechanisms given the digital/interstate nature of image sharing and questions about resources needed
  • Defining "survivors": Whether protections should extend beyond intimate images to other harmful image-based abuse, and what consent standards apply to previously private images shared in new contexts

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

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