ACT 259 (2025) – Relating to Discrimination

What this means

A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

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ACT 259 (2025) – Relating to Discrimination

WHAT IS ACT 259?

Act 259 is a civil recourse for discriminatory reporting to Law Enforcement.

You may file a lawsuit against an individual for knowingly causing a law enforcement officer to come to a location to contact a person on the basis of their race, gender identity or other protected class.

WHAT ARE PROTECTED CLASSES?

RACE

COLOR

ANCESTRY

ETHNICITY

NATIONAL ORIGIN

PLACE OF BIRTH

SEX

AGE

RELIGION

DISABILITY

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION

YOU MAY SUE IF AN INDIVIDUAL INTENDS TO

Discriminate or infringe on your constitutional rights

Harass, humiliate, or embarrass you

Cause you to be expelled from a place you are lawfully allowed to be

Damage your reputation, or standing in the community

Damage your financial, economic, consumer, or business prospects or interests

YOU MAY SEEK

Injunctive relief

Payment for damages

Attorneys’ fees and costs

Other appropriate relief

You do not have to prove actual damages to obtain an injunction to stop the discriminatory action.

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you feel your rights were violated, you may file a lawsuit for this type of discrimination.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii: https://www.legalaidhawaii.org

Judiciary Self-Help Page: https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help

Legal Navigator Hawai’i Tool: https://legalnavigatorhawaii.org

GM1362_SB116_Act259Download

Release text attributed to Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.