STAND. COM. REP. NO. 727

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 227

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 227 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate moneys for the Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division within the Department of Law Enforcement, subject to a sunset date of June 30, 2028.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaiian Humane Society, and five individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that establishing the proposed new division, with specially trained and dedicated personnel focused specifically on investigating illegal fireworks, will help coordinate and sustain efforts to enforce applicable laws and protect local communities.

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 227, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 227, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair