STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1362

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 386

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 386 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DANGEROUS DRUGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to conform fentanyl to the possession offense thresholds for methamphetamine, heroin, morphine, and cocaine.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that fentanyl has emerged as one of the most potent and dangerous synthetic opioids, estimated to be fifty to one hundred times stronger than morphine. Your Committee believes that fentanyl's increasing prevalence in the State's communities demands appropriate legal classification and enforcement mechanisms. By aligning fentanyl with other dangerous drugs like methamphetamine, heroin, morphine, and cocaine, this measure will provide law enforcement with more precise guidelines for prosecution, ensure consistent application of the law, and enhance state and local law enforcement's ability to combat dangerous drug distribution and possession in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 386, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair