STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1736

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 664

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 664, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prevent gun‑related violence.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes within the Department of Law Enforcement, for administrative purposes only, an Office of Gun Violence Prevention;

(2) Establishes a gun violence prevention special fund, to be administered by the Office of Gun Violence Prevention;

(3) Transfers the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission from the Office of the Attorney General to the Department of Law Enforcement; and

(4) Appropriates moneys.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from Hawaii - American Nurses Association, Everytown for Gun Safety, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, Moms Demand Action Hawaii Chapter, and numerous individuals.

Your Committees received written comments in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Rifle Association; Rosa's Protection Systems, LLC; NRA Hawaii; and numerous individuals.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that recent high-profile incidents of gun violence have caused deaths and serious injuries, and that gun violence has a devastating impact on the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the State. Your Committees also find that a research office specifically dedicated to the prevention of gun violence can help complement law enforcement efforts to reduce that violence.

Your Committees have amended this measure by including the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee, as a member of the gun violence and violent crimes commission.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 664, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 664, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair