STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1228

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 995

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 995 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS REPORTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the annual reporting requirements imposed on the Department of the Attorney General and the chief of police of each county regarding licenses to carry firearms.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police Department, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Patriot Republicans and thirty-five individuals.

Your Committee finds that accurate reporting on firearms licensing is critical for public safety planning and policy development in the State. Accordingly, this measure will facilitate accurate reporting by providing county police departments with additional time to provide data to the Department of the Attorney General for the annual reporting requirements currently in place under state law, and by providing the Department of the Attorney General with additional time to complete the required aggregation of data it receives from the county police departments. The extended timeline for data submission will allow county police departments to compile more accurate and complete information regarding firearms licenses, including detailed information on license denials and revocations, ensuring that the necessary transparency and accountability in firearms licensing is maintained in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 995, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

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BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair