STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 12
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 595
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 Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 595 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish the right of a person to record law enforcement activities and a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities.
Your Committee finds that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects freedom of speech and expression and courts have determined that this includes the right to record police officers in public spaces so long as it does not interfere with the officer's duties and is done lawfully. Your Committee further finds that it is important to protect the right to record law enforcement activities and prevent infringements upon this right. Your Committee believes that this measure strikes an appropriate balance between an individual's right to record law enforcement activities and to bring an action for any violation of this right with law enforcement's ability to carry out its duties.
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 Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 595, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 595, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,
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____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair |
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