STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2116-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 26

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 26 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE RISE IN ILLEGAL TEXT MESSAGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Congress to enact legislation to address the rise in illegal text messages.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that there are concerns that text messages could be the new method for criminals to scam consumers. In August 2021, there were approximately 7,650,000 spam text messages delivered to consumers. Automated text messages are now more prevalent, and potentially more dangerous, than robocalls since malicious links can be clicked directly in a text message. This measure therefore urges that federal action be taken to address the growing problem of scam text messages.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Including the Federal Trade Commission as an agency the United States Congress is urged to consult in crafting legislation;

(2) Clarifying that the recipients of certified copies of this measure from the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission are the chairpersons of each respective commission; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 26, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 26, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair