STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 618
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 126
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 126 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to make the State's property forfeiture process more just by:
(1) Increasing transparency and accountability surrounding property forfeiture;
(2) Clarifying which property is subject to forfeiture;
(3) Amending the authorized disposition of forfeited property and the proceeds thereof; and
(4) Repealing language that requires the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act to be construed liberally.
Your Committee finds that the State's existing property forfeiture process requires reform to ensure greater fairness, transparency, and accountability. This measure clarifies the types of property subject to forfeiture, adjusts the disposition of forfeited assets, mandates public record-keeping, and removes provisions that allowed for overly broad interpretations of the law.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 126, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 126, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair |
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