STAND. COM. REP. NO. 701

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 508

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. 508 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend Act 67, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, to:

(1) Appropriate funds for the Illegal Fireworks Task Force for fiscal year 2025-2026 and 2026-2027; and

(2) Extend the sunset date to June 30, 2030.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Law Enforcement; Honolulu Police Department; Hawaiian Humane Society; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the results of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force over the past two years demonstrate the need for sustained funding and administrative support.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the appropriation language;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 508, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 508, 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,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair