STAND. COM. REP. NO. 166

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 148

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 148 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMBAT SPORTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal and replace the existing mixed martial arts program with a new regulatory framework under the authority of a newly established combat sports commission of Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi Association of Professional Nurses and three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from Department of the Attorney General and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committees find that the State once stood as a beacon of excellence in mixed martial arts (MMA). Over a decade ago, fourteen MMA athletes represented Hawaii, putting the State at the forefront of global representation on a per capita basis. Since then, MMA has continued to grow in popularity across the State. However, there are very few sanctioned events held in the State, which has driven a dangerous trend of "underground" and potentially unsafe practices within the MMA and combat sports community. Establishing a framework to regulate combat sports contests will help revitalize and safeguard the sport in the State and attract larger, sanctioned events like those staged by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Your Committees acknowledge the testimony of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs expressing concerns that a separate commission would be less efficient than the current method of regulating boxing contests in the State and would significantly increase the financial burden of the licensing process for participants. Amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to address these concerns.

Your Committees further note the testimony in support of this measure requesting that dual commissioners be appointed to the Combat Sports Commission, and your Committees respectfully request that this concern be considered as this measure moves forward in the legislative process.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Renaming the "Boxing Commission of Hawaii" the "Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii";

(2) Creating a new part in chapter 440, Hawaii Revised Statutes, rather than a new chapter, to establish the regulations for combat sports under the Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii;

(3) Replacing "licensed physicians" with "licensed health care providers" to reflect the State's inclusive and multidisciplinary health care system;

(4) Increasing the membership of the Commission from five to eight members and requiring that at least one member have experience in the regulation of combat sports and combat sports events;

(5) Deleting language that would have made certain sections effective upon the adoption of rules by the Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii;

(6) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 148, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 148, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair