STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1722

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 125

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 125, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require retail sellers or transferers of firearms to provide purchasers with written notice regarding the law on firearms storage;

(2) Expand the requirements for the secure storage of firearms; and

(3) Clarify the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; Everytown for Gun Safety; Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America-Hawaii Chapter; Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America-Hawaii Chapter; Hawaiʻi – American Nurses Association; Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition; Hawaiʻi Public Health Association; Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights; Church of the Crossroads; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; GOS Gun Owners for Safety; Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and thirty-one individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Patriot Republicans, NRA Hawaii, and numerous individuals.

Your Committees find that the improper or unsecure storage of firearms greatly increases the likelihood of accidents, thefts, and escalations in violence. Improper firearm storage is especially dangerous to children due to its role in firearm related accidents and school shootings. Proper firearm storage is therefore paramount to public safety. This measure aims to reduce firearm related accidents and crimes by instituting additional storage and notification requirements to reduce unauthorized access to firearms.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 125, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair