STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1063

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 148

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 S.B. No. 148, S.D. 1, 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 establish a regulatory framework in the State for combat sports.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Renames the Boxing Commission of Hawaii to the Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii and expands its jurisdiction to include combat sports and mixed martial arts; and

(2) Repeals the mixed martial arts program under Chapter 440E, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from two individuals.

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

Your Committees find that many residents in the State have embraced combat sports, with combat sports events drawing full-capacity crowds to the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena. Your Committees further find that, to continue growing the combat sports industry in the State, the Hawaii Boxing Commission should be expanded to include combat sports.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 148, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 148, 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